CM 

O 

C\j 

CC 


fJ  d  A  ffl  IJ  R3       IT 


Kl  'W  0,  3  Rl  , 


THF.      SELF       tOUCATED         MAN 


LIFE 


OF 


DOCTOR   FRANKLIN. 


JOHN    N.    NORTON,    A.M., 

SECTOR  OF  ASCKNSION  CHURCH,  FRANKFORT,  KKNTCCKY;    AUTHOR  OF 

''FULL  PROOF  OF  MINISTRY,''    '' SHORT  8KUMON3,"   "  LIFK 

OF  WASHINGTON,"    "  LIVES  OF  BISHOPS."  KTO. 


"  Every  penny  stamp  is  a  monument  to  Franklin,  earned,  if  not  established  by 
himself,  as  the  fruit  of  his  early  labors  and  his  signal  success  in  the  organization 
of  an  infant  post-office." 

ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP. 

"  He  professes  himself  to  be  a  Protestant  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  holds 
iu  the  highest  veneration  the  doctrines  of  Jtscs  CHRIST." 

FRANKLIN'S  Preface,  to  Abridgment  of  Prayer-Book. 


FRANKFORT,  KY.  : 

S.    I.    M.    MAJOR    &    CO. 

1861. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S61, 

BY  JOHN  N.  NORTON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


RENNIE,  SHEA  &  LIXDSAY, 

rBRKOTYPKRS  AND  ELKCTROTYPERS 

81,  83  4  85  Centre-.traet, 
NBW  YORK.  ' 


TO 

ALEXANDER  DALLAS  BACHE,  LL.D., 

SUPERINTENDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  COAST  SURVEY. 


IT  is  your  happy  lot  to  be  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  illus 
trious  Franklin.  I  dedicate  this  his  brief  portraiture  to  you, 
because  it  is  even  your  happier  lot  to  reproduce  his  lineaments 
in  characteristic  services  to  our  country  and  race. 

Franklin  was  ever  the  fittest  man  in  the  fittest  place  ;  secun- 
dis  dubiisque  rectus. 

The  calm  philosopher  of  a  colony  whose  chief  maxim  was 
Peace,  he  was  captain,  colonel,  and  generalissimo,  when  peace 
had  to  be  fought  for.  Agent  of  the  colonies  to  preserve  exist 
ing  relations  with  the  mother-land,  he  became  ambassador, 
with  more  than  "  Plenipotentiary"  powers,  to  secure  Indepen 
dence,  when  those  relations  were  no  longer  tolerable.  The 
greatest  philosopher  and  the  greatest  statesman  of  his  age, 
having  filled  the  world  with  his  lame,  he  yet  gave  even  his 
octogenarian  years  to  the  Presidency  of  Pennsylvania,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  the  convention  which  framed  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States.  And  as  one  of  the  founders  of  their 
empire,  he  labored  first  and  last  in  the  cause  of  education, 
morals,  and  religion,  as  the  foundation  of  its  durability. 

You,  too,  have  borne  arms;  you,  too,  have  laid  broad  foun 
dations  in  education,  morals,  and  religion  ;  you,  too,  beyond 
any  other  than  your  great  ancestor,  have  illustrated  American 
science. 

That  the  work  of  both  ancestor  and  descendant  may  con 
tribute  largely  to  the  welfare  of  this  people,  and  that  all  things 
may  be  so  ordered  and  settled  upon  the  best  and  surest  foun 
dations,  that  peace  and  happiness,  truth  and  justice,  religion 
and  piety  may  be  established  among  us  for  all  generations,  is 

the  humble,  earnest  prayer  of 

THE  AUTHOR 


;" 


"Franklin  appreciated  the  devout  and  transcendent  labors  of  such 
men  as  Jonathan  Edwards,  in  laying  the  foundations,  and  could  empty 
his  pockets  at  the  heart-stirring  appeals  of  Whitefield.  His  friendships, 
in  England  and  America,  were  with  bishops  and  divines.  The  Bishop 
of  St.  Asaph,  of  Sodor  and  Man,  no  less  than  the  Methodist  Whitefield, 
were  his  friends;  and  he  could  cast  an  eye  backward  with  affection  and 
reverence  from  the  glittering  salons  of  Paris  to  the  dark  shades  of 
Puritan  ancestors.  There  was  a  sound  vein  of  piety  in  his  composition, 
which  bore  its  fruits;  nor  had  French  levity,  or  companionship  with 
the  encyclopaedists,  blunted  his  religious  education.  His  warning  hand, 
raised  to  Paine  on  the  eve  of  his  infidel  publication,  deserves  to  be 
remembered." — DuyckincK's  Cyclopaedia. 


"One  of  the  most  grateful  things  in  my  experience  among  the  middle 
classes  in  England,  France,  and  Germany,  is,  that  I  have  been  there 
recognized  as  the  countryman  of  Franklin,  and  by  virtue  of  this,  have 
been  often  received  as  a  friend." — Goodrich's  Recollections  of  a  Life 
time. 


"Zealous  theologians  have  attacked  the  orthodoxy  of  his  creed;  casu 
ists  have  cavilled  at  the  materialism  of  his  ethical  precepts;  but  he  was 
doubtless  a  good  man;  he  was  unquestionably  a  great  man,  and  he 
richly  merits  the  title  of  '  the  most  useful  man  of  any  age' — a  title 
which  he  would  have  envied  beyond  all  the  gifts  of  fortune  and  laurels 
of  fame." — Macaulay. 


PREFACE. 


IF  any  good  is  accomplished  by  this  memoir,  it  will 
be  due,  in  no  small  degree,  to  Colonel  E.  W.  Morgan, 
Superintendent  of  the  Kentucky  Military  Institute,  at 
whose  suggestion  it  was  prepared,  and  who  kindly 
placed  in  the  writer's  hands  a  large  mass  of  materials, 
most  difficult  to  be  obtained.  Grateful  acknowledg 
ments  are  also  made  to  several  of  Dr.  Franklin's  de 
scendants;  to  the  Eev.  Dr.  Dorr,  of  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia;  and  to  General  Winfield  Scott,  for  their 
valuable  contributions. 

Small  as  this  volume  is,  in  comparison  with  those  of 
Duane  and  Sparks,  it  will  be  found  to  contain  various 
particulars  not  given  in  the  larger  works. 

While  an  attempt  has  been  made  to -vindicate  the 
name  of  Dr.  Franklin  from  the  charge  of  infidelity, 
there  has  been  no  wish  to  conceal  his  faults,  nor  even 
to  apologize  for  them.  We  have  tried  to  draw  his  por 
trait  with  all  faithfulness,  and  the  public  must  judge  of 
the  degree  of  success  with  which  this  has  been  accom 
plished.  It  is  as  no  advocate  of  party  or  sect  that  we 
have  labored.  The  Patriot  Philosopher  was,  emphati 
cally,  the  friend  of  toleration,— believing  it  to  be  one 
means  of  making  men  most  truly  religious. 

March,  1860. 


"Franklin  is  dead!  The  genius  that  freed  America  and  poured  a 
flood  of  light  over  Europe,  has  returned  to  the  bosom  of  the  Divinity. 

41  The  sage  whom  two  worlds  claim  as  their  own,  the  man  for  whom 
the  history  of  science  and  the  history  of  empires  contend  with  each 
other,  held,  without  doubt,  a  high  rank  in  the  human  race. 

"I  propose  that  it  be  decreed,  that  the  National  Assembly,  during 
three  days,  shall  wear  mourning  for  Benjamin  Franklin." — Mirabeau. 


"A  new  town  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts  having  done  me  the  honor 
of  naming  itself  after  me,  and  proposing  to  build  a  steeple  to  their 
meeting-house,  if  I  would  give  them  a  bell,  I  have  advised  the  sparing 
themselves  the  expense  of  a  steeple  for  the  present,  and  that  they  would 
accept  of  books  instead  of  a  bell,  sense  being  preferable  to  sound.  These 
are  therefore  intended  as  the  commencement  of  a  little  parochial  library 
for  the  use  of  a  society  of  intelligent,  respectable  farmers,  such  as  our 
country  people  generally  consist  of."— Dr.  Franklin's  Letter  to  Riohard 
Price,  in  1785. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  FIRST. 

A  grave  charge,  which  many  believe  to  be  true— The  purpose  for  which  this 
book  is  written— Birth  and  parentage— Christening  in  the  Old  South  Church— 
A  large  family— Putting  out  sons  to  trades— Higher  views  for  Benjamin— His 
uncle's  liberal  offer— How  Mr.  Franklin  got  out  of  the  fold— Something  about 
Puritanism— Early  promises  of  scholarship— Studies  broken  off— The  leader  of 
the  mischief-makers— The  fishing-wharf— Speedy  punishment— Mr.  Franklin 
concludes  to  allow  his  sou  to  select  a  trade  for  himself— Fresh  difficulties. ,  13 


CHAPTER  SECOND. 

A  bookworm— Voyages  and  travels— The  dry  old  theological  books— Johu 
Bunyan's  works— Advantages  and  disadvantages— Cotton  Mather's  essay- 
Franklin's  grateful  remembrance  of  it — Bound  apprentice  in  a  printing-office 
—Books  become  more  plenty  with  him— A  poet  in  a  small  way— John  Collins 
and  his  argumentative  turn— Mr.  Franklin  criticises  his  son's  style  to. some 
purpose— What  an  odd  volume  of  the  Spectator  did— The  printer's  boy  makes 
his  escape  from  the  "  Old  South"—"  A  more  excellent  way"— Learning  to  use 
milder  and  less  offensive  terms— Mastering  old  difficulties— Geometry  and 
navigation . .  22 


CHAPTER  THIRD. 

The  fourth  American  newspaper  begins  its  career— A  curious  note— Advice  and 
apprehensions— The  printer's  boy  tries  his  hand  at  writing  for  the  paper— 
"Who  can  the  author  be?"— James  Franklin  in  prison— The  apprentice  as 
sumes  the  editorial  tripod— Quarrels  between  the  brothers— A  flimsy  scheme— 
An  open  rupture— Benjamin  goes  to  New  York— Mr.  Bradford  befriends  him— 
Journey  to  the  Quaker  City— His  entrance  described  by  himself— A  meal  of 
dry  bread— Miss  Read's  amusement  at  his  strange  appearance— The  Quaker 
meeting—' 'I'll  show  thee  a  better  one' '—Getting  into  business 32 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  FOURTH. 

Keimer's  printing-Tiouse— Aquila  Rose— One  of  the  French  prophets— Taking 
board  at  Mr.  Read's— The  anguish  which  parents  are  made  to  suffer  by  their 
thoughtless  children— The  retreat  of  the  runaway  discovered— Makes  the 
acquaintance  of  Sir  William  Keith— Large  promises— Franklin  goes  back  to 
Boston  for  money— Unsuccessful  result  of  his  application— Collins  costs  his 
friend  a  pretty  penny — Sir  William  renews  his  promises  on  a  larger  scale — 
Love  matters — The  Annis  sets  sail — "I  don't  know  such  a  person!" — The 
Governor's  falsehoods  discovered— Making  the  best  of  circumstances— Another 
cause  of  regret 43 


CHAPTER  FIFTH. 

Lessons  in  frugally  and  sobriety—"  The  Water- American"— A  new  friend— Ex 
periments  in  sw»mming—  How  to  learn  this  art — Curious  experiment — Franklin 
returns  to  Philadelphia— Changes  among  old  acquaintances— Brief  career  as  a 
merchant — In  Keimer's  office  once  more — A  new  firm — The  Junto — Editing  a 
newspaper — A  library  established — One  partner  doing  the  work  of  both — A 
better  arrangement— Characteristic  anecdote— An  essay  on  paper  currency- 
Marriage 53 


CHAPTER  SIXTH. 

Rewards  of  diligence— Standing  before  kings— An  industrious  wife— The  first 
silver  spoons — Novel  mode  of  dealing  with  Congress — Poor  Richard's  Alma 
nac — Franklin's  religions  views  at  this  stage  of  his  career — Clinging  to 
Presbyterianism  as  long  as  he  could— The  eloquent  preacher  who  wrote  but 
poorly — Becomes  acquainted  with  the  Church — A  pewholder  for  sixty  years — 
Attending  worship  under  difficulties — Resumes  his  studies — Visit  to  Boston — 
Last  interview  with  his  brother  James — Clerk  of  the  Assembly — Appointed 
postmaster — A  prayer-book  stolen 54 


CHAPTER  SEVENTH. 

Whitefield  visits  Philadelphia— The  short-sighted  policy  of  that  age  of  spiritual 
lethargy— Effects  of  Whitefield's  eloquence-His  orphan  house— Franklin's 
intercourse  with  him—"  Thee  seems  to  be  out  of  thy  right  senses  ["—Preach 
ing  to  vast  multitudes— Testing  the  powers  of  Whitefield's  voice— Advantage 
enjoyed  by  itinerant  preachers— Franklin  publishes  Whitefield's  works— Their 
last  meeting— Interesting  letter— Motives  with  which  benefits  should  be  con 
ferred—Faith  and  good  works— Example  of  our  blessed  Lord 76 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  EIGHTH. 

Prosperity— Franklin's  efforts  for  the  public  good— Militia  system— Education- 
Public  fast-day— The  Franklin  stove— Philosophical  studies  begun— Dragged 
into  the  public  service  again — Establishment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital— 
Improving  the  streets  of  Philadelphia— Changes  in  the  general  post-office 
department — Honors  conferred — Curious  experiments  in  electricity — Phenom 
ena  of  thunder-gusts— Franklin's  discoveries  carry  his  name  to  other  lands.  85 


CHAPTER  NINTH. 

A  general  Congress  at  Albany— Franklin's  plan  for  union— The  British  govern 
ment  disapprove  of  it— General  Braddock  sent  over— His  embarrassments 
relieved  by  Franklin's  energy— The  unsuccessful  expedition— Braddock's  poor 
opinion  of  the  American  troops— Franklin's  militia  bill— Proceeds  to  the 
frontier  to  erect  fortifications— The  way  to  secure  a  prompt  attendance  at 
prayers— Chosen  colonel— Difficulties  with  the  Proprietaries— Franklin  sent 
to  England  as  the  agent  of  the  Province— His  reception  there— Made  doctor  of 
laws— Two  anonymous  publications,  which  produced  their  intended  effect- 
Visit  to  Holland  and  Flanders— The  armonica— Return  to  America 101 


CHAPTER  TENTH. 

No  time  for  domestic  enjoyment— The  duties  of  postmaster-general— Extensive 
tour  of  duty— Sarah  Franklin— New  difficulties— Sensible  letter— Value  which 
Franklin  attached  to  the  Prayer-book— Once  more  in  England— The  Stamp 
Act,  and  the  troubles  which  grew  out  of  it— Franklin's  efforts  to  set  matters 
right— Examination  before  the  House  of  Commons— Becomes  more  bold  and 
decided— The  English  ministry  once  more  in  mischief— Franklin  becomes 
weary  of  ineffectual  efforts  for  better  things— Hasty  departure  for  America- 
Death  of  his  wife— Some  particulars  concerning  her 115 


CHAPTER  ELEVENTH. 

The  reader  is  introduced  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph— Franklin  enjoys  his  gen 
erous  hospitality— Keeping  a  grandson's  birthday— Chit-chat  which  is  not  to 
be  repeated— Franklin  begins  his  autobiography— Dr.  Shipley's  noble  stand 
in  regard  to  American  affairs— Humorous  letter  on  the  death  of  Miss  Shipley's 
squirrel— A  touching  reminiscence— The  death  of  the  good  bishop— Dr. 
Franklin's  letter  of  condolence— Earthly  friendships  brought  to  a  close. . .  131 


10  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  TWELFTH. 

Dr.  Franklin  in  Congress— The  whole  country  in  agitation  on  account  of  the 
conflict  at  Lexington— Causes  of  the  American  Revolution— Letter  to  Dr. 
Priestley— Treacherous  conduct  of  General  Gage— A  busy  old  man— Frugality 
and  industry  become  fashionable— Evidences  that  our  patriotic  fathers  looked 
to  God  for  help— Peyton  Randolph's  funeral— New  post-office  arrangements— 
The  half-bound  folio  of  three  quires  of  paper— Military  affairs— Franklin 
serves  on  various  important  committees— Secret  correspondence  opened  with 
friends  abroad— Commissioners  sent  to  Canada— Very  little  accomplished.  141 


CHAPTER  THIRTEENTH. 

Ready  for  independence— Virginia  takes  the  first  decided  step— John  Dickinson 
has  his  doubts— Arguments  answered— The  Declaration  drawn  up  and  signed— 
Anecdote  told  by  Mr.  Jefferson— "  We  must  all  hang  together  I"— King  George 
proposes  to  pardon  his  rebel  subjects— The  two  Howes  come  over  as  commis 
sioners— Correspondence  with  Dr.  Franklin— The  game  of  chess— "  They 
ought  to  kiss  and  be  friends"— General  Sullivan  carries  a  message  to  Con 
gress—One  more  attempt  at  negotiations,  and  then  the  game  ends 154 


CHAPTER  FOURTEENTH. 

Proposing  an  alliance  with  France— Three  commissioners  appointed— Dr. 
Franklin  and  his  grandsons— Reception  by  the  French— Takes  lodgings  at 
Passy-The  venerable  man— Honors  paid  to  him— First  interview  of  the  com 
missioners  with  .the  French  minister— Kindness  in  secret— Bolder  measures 
follow— England  indignant— The  old  enemies  at  war— America  neither  to  be 
dragooned  nor  bamboozled— Sharp  points  and  blunt  ones— Reception  at  court 
—Anecdotes— Description  of  Franklin  by  a  German  historian—"  One  Benny 
Franklin  worth  two  kings  I" 165 


CHAPTER  FIFTEENTH. 

Philadelphia  token  by  the  British— Franklin's  house  robbed— Another  source 
of  trouble— William  Franklin,  the  tory— Sketch  of  his  career— Obtnseness  of 
feeling— Matter-of-fact  letter  on  his  mother's  death— Dr.  Franklin's  distress  at 
the  course  pursued  by  his  son— Mention  made  of  him  in  his  will— Lessons  in 
French— Applauding  in  the  wrong  place—"  The  spectators  do  not  pay  !"—  El- 
kanah  Watson's  recollections  of  Franklin— French  dinner-party— Franklin's 
portrait  in  high  company— Playing  on  the  armonica— Weighing  the  chances 
of  war— Ecstasy  of  joy— Paris  illuminated Hg 


CONTENTS.  1 1 


CHAPTER  SIXTEENTH. 

Thoughtful  arrangement  to  prevent  Captain  Cook's  vessel  from  being  disturbed 
— Less  about  Lafayette  than  his  goodness  merits — Correspondence  upon  th-s 
presentation  of  a  sword— Another  character,  and  quite  a  different  one—"  Tho 
Age  of  Reason"— Franklin's  noble  letter  to  Paine— Publication  of  the  miser 
able  work— Paine  becomes  an  object  of  abhorrence  to  all  good  men— His  deati« 
as  described  by  an  eye-witness— An  additional  antidote  for  the  poison— "3 
would  give  worlds  had  the  'Age  of  Reason'  never  been  published  1"— Twofold 
warnings 19? 


CHAPTER  SEVENTEENTH. 

Some  leading  events  briefly  noted— Dr.  Franklin  requests  to  be  recalled  home 
After  waiting  three  years  longer,  the  petition  is  granted— Bidding  farewell  t 
France— Meets  with  friends  at  Southampton— Landing  at  Philadelphia  amids 
the  ringing  of  bells,  and  other  demonstrations  of  joy— Action  of  the  Genera* 
Assembly — Chosen  President  of  Pennsylvania — "  I  am  got  into  my  niche, 
after  being  kept  out  of  it  twenty-four  years"— A  delegate  to  a  most  important 
convention— Franklin's  speech  in  defence  of  daily  prayers—"  God  governs  in 
the  affairs  of  men"— Signing  the  Constitution— The  sun  behind  the  president's 
<**"••  ..•  ..  206 


CHAPTER  EIGHTEENTH. 

Franklin's  writings  easily  identified— The  germs  of  ideas  now  triumphant— 
"Words  spoken  in  season"— Copper  coinage— A  good  suggestion— The  Frank 
lin  copper— The  order  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  its  hereditary  honors— Wash 
ington  quiets  a  storm— Ascending  and  descending  honors— Ribbons  and 
medals— The  bald  eagle  which  looked  like  a  turkey— A  bird  of  courage— The 
dead  fly  restored  to  life— Franklin's  wish— Wonders  he  might  have  seen. .  216 


CHAPTER  NINETEENTH. 

Protest  against  duelling— Franklin's  services  for  his  country  and  mankind— His 
respect  for  true  religion— False  charges  refuted— Letter  to  Dr.  Johnson- 
Recognition  of  God's  providence— Consolations  in  affliction— "  These  are  Thy 
doings,  O  Lord  l"—The  swarm  of  bees— A  test  subscription— Not  blinking  a 
troublesome  question— Dr.  Priestley's  influence  discovered— President  Stiles' 
catechism— Doubts  on  a  most  important  point— More  light  promised 230 


12 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEK  TWENTIETH. 

No  offices  of  profit— Dr.  Franklin  carries  out  his  principles— Retirement  from 
public  life— A  scene  in  tlie  domestic  circle— Painful  sickness— Farewell  letter 
to  President  Washington— Patience  in  suffering— Repeats  Dr.  Watts'  hymns 
—Preparing  to  depart— Picture  of  the  crucifixion— Looking  unto  Jesus— Falls 
asleep— Account  of  the  funeral— Plain  tombstone— Act  of  kindness  for  poor 
mechanics— Honors  paid  to  Franklin  after  death— Items  from  the  parish 
register  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia— Conclusion ...  240 


BIRTH-PLACE   OF   FRANKLIN. 

Front  Chap.  1. 


LIFE 


DOCTOR  FRANKLIN. 


CHAPTER   FIEST. 

A  grave  charge,  which  many  believe  to  be  true— The  purpose 
for  which  this  book  is  written — Birth  and  parentage — Chris 
tening  in  the  Old  South  Church— A  large  family— Putting 
out  sons  to  trades — Higher  views  for  Benjamin — His  uncle's 
liberal  offer— How  Mr.  Franklin  got  out  of  the  fold— Some 
thing  about  Puritanism— Early  promises  of  scholarship— The 
leader  of  the  mischief-makers — The  fishing-wharf— Speedy 
punishment — Mr.  Franklin  concludes  to  allow  his  son  to  se 
lect  a  trade  for  himself— Fresh  difficulties. 

THE  writer  once  heard  a  popular  lecturer 
pronounce  Doctor  Franklin  an  Infidel.  No 
doubt  others  entertain  this  opinion  concerning 
him.  It  is  the  fault  of  many  of  the  biogra 
phies  of  our  great  men,  that  they  only  portray 
one  side  of  them.  We  see  them  making  won 
derful  discoveries  in  science,  or  fighting  brave- 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


ly  the  battles  of  their  country,  or  presiding 
with  dignity  in  the  chair  of  state,— while  little 
is  revealed  concerning  their  thoughts  and 
feelings.  In  this  life  of  Dr.  Franklin,  we  have 
no  purpose  to  serve  but  that  of  truth.  We. 
believe  him  to  have  been  a  devoted  patriot,— 
a  man  ready  for  every  emergency,— and  with 
al,  one  who  feared  God,  and  who  endeavored 
in  sincerity  to  serve  Him.  His  example  shows 
to  the  young  men  of  our  land,  how  much  may 
be  accomplished  by  setting  out  in  life  with  a 
high  and  laudable  ambition,  and  being  guided 
by  true  and  noble  principles. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  was  born  in  Boston, 
January  17,  1706. 

He  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  youngest 
son  for  five  generations,  the  fifteenth  child  of 
his  father,  out  of  a  family  of  seventeen. 

Josiah  Franklin  was  an  English  non-con 
formist,  who  had  come  over  to  Boston  about 
1685 ;  a  man  of  strength  and  prudence  of 
character,— a  tallow-chandler  and  soap-boiler 
by  trade.  The  mother  of  the  future  philoso 
pher,  represented  a  literary  name  of  the  old 
province  of  Massachusetts,  being  the  daughter 
of  Peter  Folger,  the  author  of  a  little  poetical 
volume,  entitled  "A  Looking-glass  for  the 


FRANKLIN'S  PARENTS.  15 

Times,"  in  which   liberty  of  conscience  was 
boldly  asserted.* 

It  appears  from  the  records  of  the  Old 
South  Church,  Boston,  of  which  Mr.  Franklin 
and  his  wife  were  members,  that  the  subject 
of  this  memoir  was  baptized  on  the  very  day 
of  his  birth.  The  family  occupied  a  house  in 
Milk-street,  opposite  to  the  place  of  worship 
just  referred  to, — a  picture  of  which  we  are 
glad  to  furnish  for  those  of  our  readers  who 
have  a  taste  for  such  things. 

*  This  worthy  couple  were  buried  at  Boston,  where  their 
distinguished  son  caused  a  monument  to  be  placed  over  their 
graves,  with  this  inscription : 

JOSIAH    FRANKLIN, 

AND 
A  B  I  A  H,     HIS      WIFE, 

LIE  UKRE  INTERRED. 
THEY  LIVED  LOVINGLY  TOGETHER  IN  WEDLOCK, 

FIFTY-FIVE   YEARS  ; 

AND  WITHOUT  AN  ESTATE,  OR   ANY  GAINFUL  EMPLOYMENT, 
BY   CONSTANT  LABOR,  AND  HONEST  INDUSTRY, 

(WITH   GOD'S   BLESSING,) 

MAINTAINED  A  LARGE   FAMILY  COMFORTABLY  5 
AND  BROUGHT  UP  THIRTEEN  CHILDREN  AND  SEVEN   GRANDCHILDREN 

REPUTABLY. 

FROM  THIS  INSTANCE,  READER, 
BE  ENCOURAGED  TO  DILIGENCE   IN  THY  CALLING, 

AND  DISTRUST  NOT  PROVIDENCE. 

HE  WAS  A  PIOUS   AND  PRUDENT  MAN, 

SHE    A  DISCREET  AND  VIRTUOUS  WOMAN. 

THEIR  YOUNGEST  SON, 

IN  FILIAL  REGARD  TO  THEIR  MEMORY, 
PLACES  THIS  STONE. 

J.  F.  BORN  1655  ;  DIED  1744.     Ml.  89. 
A.  F.  BORN  1667  ;  DIED  1752.     Mr.  85. 


16  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  speaking, 
Boston  was  quite  a  small  place  compared  with 
what  it  is  now,  but  the  people  were  indus 
trious  and  enterprising,  and  worthy  progeni 
tors  of  those  who  in  our  day  enjoy  its  prosper 
ity  and  greatness. 

With  so  large  a  family  to  provide  for,  Mr. 
Franklin  was  obliged  to  put  out  his  sons  as 
apprentices  to  different  trades,  as  soon  as  they 
wrere  old  enough  for  the  purpose.  Benjamin, 
however,  he  resolved  to  devote  to  the  ministry, 
and  at  eight  years  of  age  he  was  sent  to  the 
grammar-school,  and  soon  gave  promise  -of 
making  a  good  scholar.  The  uncle  after 
whom  he  was  named,  a  devout  and  well-dis 
posed  man,  had  invented  a  system  of  short 
hand  by  which  he  was  enabled  to  take  down 
the  discourses  of  the  celebrated  preachers  of 
the  day, — and  by  way  of  encouraging  his  little 
nephew  to  pursue  the  course  which  his  father 
had  proposed, — he  promised  to  make  him  a 
present  of  his  choice  collection,  w^hen  he  was 
ready  to  enter  the  pulpit. 

We  spoke  of  Mr.  Franklin  as  a  non-conform 
ist.  The  family,  for  many  generations  before, 
had  been  members  of  the  Church  of  England, 

c!5 

and  it  was  not  until  the  reign  of  Charles  the 


MACAULAY    ON    PURITANISM.  17 

Second,  that  any  of  them  left  the  old  Apostolic 
fold.  Then,  in  consequence  of  some  sectional 
difficulty,  in  which  articles  of  religious  faith 
had  no  concern,  Josiah  Franklin  and  his 
brother  Benjamin,  began  to  attend  upon  the 
preaching  of  the  English  dissenters — the  rest 
of  the  family  remaining  steadfast  in  their 
attachment  to  the  Church  of  their  fathers. 

A  disposition  like  that  possessed  by  our 
little  hero,  could  never  find  much  that  was 
congenial  in  the  cold  and  rigid  severities  of 
Puritanism,*  and  while  he  regarded  the  piety 


*  Not  a  few  persons  were  delighted  when  Macaulay,  in  the 
first  volume  of  his  English  History,  ventured  to  make  some 
statements  in  regard  to  the  origin  of  the  Church,  which  seemed 
to  strip  her  of  her  lofty  claims  to  be  the  kingdom  of  our  Blessed 
Lord.  The  same  individuals  who  take  his  authority  in  such 
matters,  should  listen  with  patience  when  he  speaks  of  things 
more  nearly  concerning  themselves.  We  quote  the  following 
fine  passage  from  his  third  volume. 

"  The  scrupulosity  of  the  Puritan  was  not  that  sort  of  scrupu 
losity  which  the  apostle  had  commanded  believers  to  respect. 
It  sprang  not  from  mordid  tenderness  of  conscience,  but  from 
censoriousness  and  spiritual  pride  :  and  none  who  had  studied 
the  New  Testament  could  have  faile/1  to  observe  that,  while  we 
are  charged  carefully  to  avoid  whatever  may  give  scandal  to 
the  feeble,  we  are  taught  by  divine  precept  and  example  to 
make  no  concession  to  the  supercilious  and  uncharitable  Phar 
isee.  Was  every  thing  which  was  not  of  the  essence  of  religion 
to  be  given  up  as  soon  as  it  became  unpleasing  to  a  knot  of 
zealots,  whose  heads  had  been  turned  by  conceit  and  the  love 
2* 


18  LIFE   OF   FEANKLIN. 

of  his  parents  with  respect  and  reverence,  their 
particular  form  of  religious  belief  became,  in 
maturer  years,  actually  repulsive  to  him. 

Benjamin  continued  at  the  grammar-school 
about  a  year,  and  made  rapid  progress,  but  his 
father  began  to  think  that  the  expenses  of  a 
collegiate  education  would  be  more  than  he 


of  novelty  ?  Painted  glass,  music,  holidays,  fast-days,  were 
not  of  the  essence  of  religion.  Were  the  windows  of  King's 
College  Chapel  to  be  broken  at  the  demand  of  one  set  of  fanat 
ics?  Was  the  organ  of  Exeter  to  be  silenced  to  please  another? 
Were  all  the  village  bells  to  be  mute  because  Tribulation 
Wholesome,  and  Deacon  Ananias  thought  them  profane?  Was 
Christmas  no  longer  to  be  a  day  of  rejoicing?  Was  Passion 
week  no  longer  to  be  a  season  of  humiliation  ?  These  changes, 
it  is  true,  were  not  yet  proposed.  But  if— so  the  High  Church 
man  reasoned — we  once  admit  that  what  is  harmless  and  edify 
ing  is  to  be  given  up  because  it  offends  some  narrow  under 
standings  and  some  gloomy  tempers,  Avhere  are  we  to  stop? 
And  is  it  not  probable,  that,  by  thus  attempting  to  heal  one 
schism,  we  may  cause  another?  All  those  things  which  the 
Puritans  regard  as  the  blemishes  of  the  Church,  are  by  a  large 
part  of  the  population  reckoned  among  her  attractions.  May 
she  not,  in  ceasing  to  give  scandal  to  a  few  sour  precisians, 
cease  also  to  influence  the  hearts  of  many  who  now  delight  in 
her  ordinances?  Is  it  not  to  be  apprehended,  that,  for  every 
proselyte  whom  she  allures  from  the  meeting-house,  ten  of  her 
old  disciples  may  turn  away  from  her  maimed  rites  and  dis 
mantled  temples,  and  that  these  new  sepai'atists  may  either 
form  themselves  into  a  sect  far  more  formidable  than  the  secb 
which  we  are  now  seeking  to  conciliate,  or  may,  in  the  violence 
of  their  disgust  at  a  cold  and  ignoble  worship,  be  tempted  to 
join  in  the  solemn  and  gorgeous  idolatry  of  Rome?" 


19 

would  be  able  to  meet.  The  lad  also,  as  we 
may  readily  suppose,  did  not  manifest  any 
great  delight  at  the  thought  of  figuring  as  a 
Puritan  divine,  and  the  plans  for  his  future 
course  were  suddenly  changed. 

He  was  accordingly  taken  from  the  gram 
mar-school,  and  placed  .under  the  instruction 
of  Mr.  George  Brown  well,  who  taught  writing 
and  arithmetic  with  success. 

Benjamin  soon  learned  to  write  a  good 
hand,  but  his  taste  for  figures  proved  to  be 
small.  At  the  age  of  ten,  we  find  him  in  his 
father's  shop,  very  busy  in  cutting  wicks  for 
the  candles,  filling  the  moulds,  waiting  upon 
customers,  and  running  of  errands.  The  busi 
ness  did  not  suit  him  at  all,  and  living  near 
the  seaside,  he  soon  fancied  that  he  should 
prefer  to  go  to  sea  as  a  sailor  and  learn  some 
thing  of  the  world. 

Mr.  Franklin  discouraged  this  idea,  and 
Benjamin  had  to  content  himself  with  becom 
ing  expert  in  swimming,  and  in  the  manage 
ment  of  boats. 

He  was  a  sort  of  captain  among  the  boys, 
and  now  and  then  led  them  into  mischief.  On 
one  occasion,  finding  it  rather  too  muddy  to 
stand  with  comfort  upon  the  marshy  borders 


UFK    OF    FKANKUX. 

of  the  mill-pond  where  they  iished,  it  was  pro 
posed  to  build  a  wharf,  and  our  young  friend 
showed  his  comrades  a  large  heap  of  stones, 
intended  for  a  new  house,  which  would  just 
answer  their  purpose.  Accordingly,  as  soon 
as  the  workmen  had  left  for  the  evening,  the 
little  mischievous  urchins,  assembled  in  full 
force,  and  labored  so  diligently,  that  the  wharf 
was  speedily  completed.  Of  course,  the  ring 
leaders  were  soon  detected,  and  received  such 
a  chastisement  at  the  hands  of  their  parents  as 
they  richly  deserved. 

Benjamin  continued  in  the  chandler-shop 
for  two  years,  when  his  brother  John,  who 
had  been  brought  up  to  his  father's  trade, 
married^and  set  up  business  for  himself  in 
Rhode  Island.  This  change  alarmed  the  little 
fellow,  as  much  more  of  the  work  now  fell  to 
his  share,  and  he  began  to  fear  that  he  must 
spend  all  his  days  in  this  humble,  and,  to  him, 
disagreeable  employment.  He  did  not  at 
tempt  to  conceal  his  apprehensions,  and  his 
father,  dreading' lest  he  might  run  off  to  sea,  as 
his  brother  Josiah  had  done  before,  concluded 
that  it  would  be  better  to  select  an  avocation 
more  agreeable  to  him. 

It    was   finally   determined   that  he    should 


TWELVE    YEAKS    OLD. 


21 


(earn  the  cutler's  trade,  and  the  boy  was 
placed  for  some  days  on  trial  with  Samuel 
Franklin,  the  son  of  his  uncle  Benjamin,  who 
had  been  taught  the  business  in  London,  and 
had  just  established  himself  in  Boston.  The 
fee  demanded  for  the  apprenticeship  was  not 
satisfactory  to  Mr.  Franklin,  and  his  son  was 
taken  home  again. 

"We  have  thus  traced  Benjamin's  course  to 
the  middle  of  his  twelfth  year.  My  readers 
must  not  suppose  that  he  had  lost  his  fondness 
for  books,  although  we  have  said  so  little  on 
the  subject,  and  we  shall  speak  of  this  in  the 
next  chapter. 


CHAPTEE   SECOND. 

A  bookworm— Voyages  and  travels— The  dry  old  theological 
books— John  Banyan's  works— Advantages  and  disadvan 
tages—Cotton  Mather's  essay— Franklin's  grateful  remem 
brance  of  it— Bound  apprentice  in  a  printing-office— Books 
become  more  plenty  with  him— A  poet  in  a  small  way— John 
Collins  and  his  argumentative  turn— Mr.  Franklin  criticises 
his  son's  style  to  some  purpose— What  an  odd  volume  of  the 
Spectator  did— The  printer's  boy  makes  his  escape  from  the 
"Old  South" — "A  more  excellent  way" — Learning  to  use 
milder  and  less  offensive  terms— Mastering  old  difficulties- 
Geometry  and  navigation. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN,  from  his  infan 
cy,  had  been  passionately  fond  of  reading, 
and  all  the  money  he  could  possibly  obtain 
was  laid  out  in  books.  Voyages  and  travels 
possessed  a  wonderful  fascination  for  him,  and 
Plutarch's  Lives  were  read  over  again  and 
again  with  increasing  delight. 

His  father's  collection  of  books  was  very  lim 
ited,  and  consisted  for  the  most  part  of  those 
dry  doctrinal  discussions  so  poorly  adapted  to 
the  capacities  of  a  child,  and  which  even  those 
of  adtilt  years  often  read  to  little  profit. 

The  first  books  which  Benjamin  could  claim 


COTTON  MATHER'S  ESSAY.  23 

as  his  own  were  John  Bunyan's  works,  in  sep 
arate  small  volumes,— and  these  he  afterwards 
sold  in  order  to  purchase  Burton's  "  Historical 
Collections." 

The  youth  of  our  own  day,  who  have  a  choice 
variety  of  books  to  select  from,  can  hardly  un 
derstand  the  condition  of  those  of  an  earlier 
period,  who  were  denied  such  precious  privi 
leges.  Our  forefathers,  however,  were  more 
careful  and  attentive  readers  than  many  of  us 
can  claim  to  be ;  and  they  were  seldom  tempted 
by  the  prospect  of  something  fresher,  to  lay 
aside  a  volume  before  its  contents  had  been 
thoroughly  examined.  Even  among  his  father's 
theological  treasures,  Benjamin  found  books 
which,  if  they  served  no  better  purpose,  helped 
him  to  form  habits  of  close  attention,  and  en 
con  raged  mental  discipline. 

He  never  regretted  the  time  which  he  had 
spent  over  "  An  Essay  to  do  Good,"  by  Dr. 
Cotton  Mather,*  the  old  Puritan  divine. 

*  On  the  12th  of  May,  1784,  Dr.  Franklin  thus  expresses  his 
obligations  to  this  book,  in  a  letter  to  Samuel  Mather,  written 
from  Passy : 

KKVEREND  SIR  : 

I  received  your  kind  letter,  with  your  excellent  advice  to 
the  people  of  the  United  States,  which  I  read  with  great  pleas- 


24  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

As  his  son  exhibited  such  a  fondness  for 
books,  Mr.  Franklin  determined  to  make  him 
a  printer. 

lire,  and  hope  it  will  be  duly  regarded.  Such  writings,  though 
they  may  be  lightly  passed  over  by  many  readers,  yet,  if  they 
make  a  deep  impression  on  one  active  mind  in  a  hundred,  the 
effects  may  be  considerable.  Permit  me  to  mention  one  little 
instance,  which,  though  it  relates  to  myself,  will  not  be  quite 
uninteresting  to  you.  When  I  was  a  boy,  I  met  with  a  book, 
entitled  "Essays  to  do  Good,"  which,  I  think,  was  written  by 
your  father.  It  had  been  so  little  regarded  by  a  former  posses 
sor,  that  several  leaves  of  it  were  torn  out;  but  the  remainder 
gave  me  such  a  turn  of  thinking,  as  to  have  an  influence  on  my 
conduct  through  life ;  for  I  have  always  set  a  greater  value  on 
the  character  of  a  doer  of  good,  than  on  any  other  kind  of  repu 
tation  ;  and  if  I  have  been,  as  you  seem  to  think,  a  useful  citi 
zen,  the  public  owes  the  advantage  of  it  to  that  book. 

You  mention  your  being  in  your  seventy-eighth  year ;  I  am 
in  my  seventy-ninth ;  we  are  grown  old  together.  It  is  now 
more  than  sixty  years  since  I  left  Boston,  but  I  remember  well 
both  your  father  and  grandfather,  having  heard  them  both  in 
the  pulpit,  and  seen  them  in  their  houses.  The  last  time  I  saw 
your  father  was  in  the  beginning  of  1724,  when  I  visited  him 
after  my  first  trip  to  Pennsylvania,  He  received  me  in  his  li 
brary,  and  on  my  taking  leave  showed  me  a  shorter  way  out  of 
the  house  through  a  -narrow  passage,  which  was  crossed  by  a 
beam  overhead.  We  were  still  talking  as  I  withdrew,  he  ac 
companying  me  behind,  and  I  turning  partly  towards  him,  when 
he  said  hastily,  "  Stoop,  stoop  /"  I  did  not  understand  him  till 
I  felt  my  head  hit  against  the  beam.  He  was  a  man  that  never 
missed  any  occasion  of  giving  instruction,  and  upon  this  he 
said  to  me,  "You  are  young,  and  have  the  world  before  you  ;  STOOP 
a*  you  go  through  it,  and  you  will  miss  many  hard  thumps." 
This  advice,  thus  beat  into  my  head,  has  frequently  been  of  use 


APPRENTICED    TO    A    PRINTER.  25 

111  1717,  James,  an  elder  brother  of  Benja 
min's,  returned  from  England  with  a  press  and 
type,  to  begin  business  in  Boston,  and  thus  a 
favorable  opening  was  found  for  this  new  ar 
rangement.  As  the  old  inclination  for  going  to 
sea  still  kept  possession  of  the  boy's  mind,  the 
anxious  father  bound  him  out  as  an  apprentice 
to  his  brother  James,  in  order  to  place  as  much 
restraint  upon  him  as  possible. 

The  young  printer  was  now  enabled  to  bor 
row  and  buy  more  books  than  before,  and  he 
sometimes  sat  up  the  greater  part  of  the  night 
engaged  in  reading. 

His  studious  habits  attracted  the  attention 
of  Mr.  Matthew  Adams,  a  thriving  merchant, 
who  kindly  offered  the  use  of  his  library  to  the 
ambitious  lad, — a  privilege  which  was  grate 
fully  accepted. 

About  this  time  Benjamin  became  quite  fond 
of  reading  poetry,  and  actually  wrote  some 
tolerable  lines  himself: — one  of  his  productions 
being  called  forth  by  the  melancholy  shipwreck 
of  Captain  Worthelake  and  his  two  daughters. 
This  ballad  had  an  extensive  sale,  and  the  au 
to  me ;  and  I  often  think  of  it,  when  I  see  pride  mortified,  and 
misfortunes  brought  upon  people  by  their  carrying  their  heads 
too  high.— SparJaf  Collection  of  Franklin's  Writings,  vol.  x.,  p.  82- 
3 


26 


LIFE   OF   FRANKLIN. 


thor's  vanity  was  considerably  flattered.  And 
here  we  must  introduce  one  of  Franklin's  early 
friends.  This  was  John  Collins,  a  Boston  boy, 
with  whom  he  had  become  very  intimate,  and 
whose  tastes  seemed  quite  congenial  with  his 
own.  They  were  both  fond  of  argument,  and 
carried  on  frequent  discussions  on  various  sub 
jects. 

Collins  had  the  advantage  of  his  antagonist 
in  a  ready  flow  of  words,  and  the  latter  endeav 
ored  to  remedy  this  defect  on  his  part  by  com 
mitting  his  thoughts  to  writing.  A  long  dis 
cussion  was  carried  on,  in  a  series  of  letters,  on 
the  grave  question  whether  it  was  proper  to 
extend  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education 
to  the  female  sex.  Mr.  Franklin  chanced  to 
come  across  some  of  his  son's  productions,  and 
while  commending  the  correctness  of  his  spell 
ing  and  punctuation,  he  criticised  his  slovenly 
and  inaccurate  style,  and  recommended  more 
attention  to  it  in  future.  This  judicious  advice 
was  not  neglected. 

Soon  after  his  father  had  drawn  his  attention 
to  his  careless  mode  of  expressing  his  thoughts, 
Benjamin  met  with  an  odd  volume  of  the  "  Spec 
tator," — that  rare  collection  of  English  essays 
which  has  excited  such  a  kindly  influence  upon 


THE    SPECTATOR.  27 

Dennie,  Panlding,  and  Irving.  The  book  was 
devoured  with  the  greatest  eagerness,  and  the 
young  printer  determined  to  make  Addison's 
beautiful  style  a  model  for  his  own. 

With  this  view,  he  would  read  over  a  few 
pages  in  the  Spectator,*  and  then  laying  aside 
the  book,  endeavor  to  express  the  same  ideas 
in  as  simple  and  appropriate  language  as  he 
could.  This  done,  his  own  composition  wras 
carefully  compared  with  the  original,  and  cor 
rections  and  improvements  made.  The  com 
mand  of  a  neat,  transparent,  graceful  style  is 
something  well  worth  striving  after,  and  we 
hope  that  Franklin's  successful  efforts  in  this 
respect  may  inspire  our  young  readers  with  an 
ambition  to  make  the  same  attempt.  Reading 
continued  to  be  Benjamin's  favorite  employ 
ment,  whenever  he  could  command  a  leisure 
hour ;  and  it  appears,  from  his  own  confession, 
that  he  often  shut  himself  up  in  the  printing- 
office  on  Sundays,  engrossed  with  a  book,  while 
his  father  and  the  other  members  of  the  family 
were  at  the  Old  South  meeting-house,  listening 

*  It  is  pleasant  to  observe  that  Franklin  always  remembered 
his  obligations  to  the  Spectator.  In  his  will  he  bequeaths  to 
the  son  of  his  friend,  Mrs.  Hewson,  "a  set  of  Spectators,  Tat 
tlers,  and  Guardians,  handsomely  bound." 


LIFK    OF    FRANKLIN. 

with  commendable  patience  to  the  interminable 
discourses  with  which  the  congregation  were 
uniformly  favored. 

Hfad  Josiah  Franklin  been  a  worshipper  in 
God's  temple, — where  the  old  Prayer-book* 
was  used,  with  its  decent  proprieties,  its  glori- 


"The  English  liturgy  gains  by  being  compared  even  with 
those  fine  ancient  liturgies  from  which  it  is  to  a  great  extent 
taken.  The  essential  qualities  of  devotional  eloquence,  con 
ciseness,  majestic  simplicity,  and  pathetic  earnestness  of  sup 
plication,  sobered  by  a  profound  reverence,  are  common  be 
tween  the  translations  and  the  originals.  But  in  the  subordi 
nate  graces  of  diction  the  originals  must  be  allowed  to  be  far 
inferior  to  the  translations.  And  the  reason  is  obvious.  The 
technical  phraseology  of  Christianity  did  not  become  a  part  of 
the  Latin  language  till  that  language  had  passed  the  age  of 
maturity,  and  was  sinking  into  barbarism  ;  but  the  technical 
phraseology  of  Christianity  was  found  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  and 
in  the  Norman-French  long  before  the  union  of  those  two  dia 
lects  had  produced  a  third  dialect  superior  to  either.  The 
Latin  of  the  Roman  Catholic  services,  therefore,  is  Latin  in  the 
last  stage  of  decay.  The  English  of  our  services  is  English  in 
all  the  vigor  and  suppleness  of  early  youth.  To  the  great  Latin 
writers,  Terence  and  Lucretius,  to  Cicero  and  Caesar,  to  Tacitus 
and  Quiritilian,  the  noblest  compositions  of  Ambrose  and  Greg 
ory,  would  have  seemed  to  be,  not  merely  bad  writing,  but 
senseless  gibberish.  The  diction  of  our  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  on  the  other  hand,  has,  directly  or  indirectly,  contribu 
ted  to  form  the  diction  of  almost  every  great  English  writer, 
and  has  extorted  the  admiration  of  the  most  accomplished  Infi 
dels  and  of  the  most  accomplished  Non-conformists — of  such 
men  as  David  Hume  and  Eobert  Hall."—  Macaulatfs  England, 
vol.  iii.,  p.  430. 


DUTY    OF    CHTIKCH-GOTNG.  29 

ous  anthems,  and  its  soul-stirring  litanies, — he 
would  have  found  his  studious  son  less  anxious 
to  escape  from  the  performance  of  the  public 
duties  of  religion.  We  do  not  intend  by  this 
remark  to  excuse  the  printer's  boy  from  all 
blame,  but  merely  to  give  an  incidental  warn 
ing  against  departures  from  the  "  old  paths." 
He  was  always  of  a  serious  turn,  and  in  after 
years,  when  he  had  learned  a  more  excellent 
way  of  serving  God  than  he  had  known  before, 
he  was  most  anxious  that  his  family  should 
follow  it.  Hence  we  find  him  writing  to  his 
wife:  "I  think  you  should  go  oftener  to 
church;"*  and  to  his  daughter:  "  Go  con 
stantly  to  church,  whoever  preaches.  The  act 
of  devotion  in  the  Common  Prayer  Book  is 
your  principal  business  there. "f 

But  more  of  this  hereafter. 

While  Franklin  was  listening  with  diligence 
to  improve  his  style,  he  found  two  little 
sketches  on  the  arts  of  Rhetoric  and  Logic,  at 
the  end  of  an  old  English  grammar,  which 
gave  him  some  valuable  hints. 

Not  long  after,  he  procured  Xenophon's 
"  Memorable  Things  of  Socrates,"  which  indu- 


*  Sparks,  vol.  vi..  p.  254.  t  Ibid.,  p.  269. 


30  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

ced  him  to  lay  aside  an  abrupt  habit  of  contra 
diction  ami  positive  argumentation,  that  he 
had  acquired,  and  to  express  himself  in  milder 
and  more  modest  terms, — a  much  surer  way  of 
securing  an  attentive  hearing  and  of  disarm 
ing  prejudice. 

When  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  read  a 
book  recommending  a  vegetable  diet,  and  the 
views  appeared  so  sensible  that  he  at  once 
adopted  them.  His  brother  James  being  un 
married,  did  not  keep  house,  but  boarded 
himself  and  his  apprentices  in  another  family. 
Benjamin's  refusing  to  eat  meat  occasioned  so 
much  inconvenience,  that  he  proposed  to  his 
brother  to  give  him  half  the  money  he  paid 
for  his  board,  and  he  would  board  himself. 
James  readily  agreed  to  this,  and  from  that 
time  forward,  instead  of  eating  with  the  other 
printers,  our  hero  dispatched  his  frugal  meal 
of  a  bit  of  bread,  a  tart,  or  a  bunch  of  raisins, 
and  a  glass  of  water ;  and  then,  with  a  clear 
head,  and  quickened  apprehension,  he  seized 
his  book.  An  additional  fund  for  the  pur 
chase  of  books  was  thus  secured.* 

*  A  caution  ought  to  be  expressed,  however,  since  medical 
science  condemns  an  exclusively  vegetable  diet,  as  tending  to 
develop  pulmonary  disease.— Ed. 


RESTUDIES    HIS    ARITHMETIC. 


31 


We  referred  in  the  first  chapter  to  Benja 
min's  slow  progress  in  arithmetic,  during  his 
brief  career  as  a  school-boy.  He  now  became 
ashamed  of  his  ignorance  in  this  -branch  of 
learning,  and  taking  up  an  old  treatise  on  the 
subject,  he  went  through  it  by  himself  with 
the  greatest  ease.  He  also  studied  some 
small  works  on  geometry  and  navigation,  and 
Locke's  famous  "Essay  on  the  Human  Under 
standing." 

New  and  more  stormy  scenes  will  be  intro 
duced  in  our  next  chapter. 


CHAPTEE    THIED. 

The  fourth  American  newspaper  begins  its  career — A  curious 
note — Advice  and  apprehensions — The  printer's  boy  tries  his 
hand  at  writing  for  the  paper—"  Who  can  the  author  be?"— 
James  Franklin  in  prison— The  apprentice  assumes  the  edi 
torial  tripod  — Quarrels  between  the  brothers  —  A  flimsy 

scheme — An  open  rupture— Benjamin  goes  to  New  York 

Mr.  Bradford  befriends  him— Journey  to  the  Quaker  City— 
His  entrance  described  by  himself— A  meal  of  dry  bread- 
Miss  Read's  amusement  at  his  strange  appearance— The  Qua 
ker  meeting— "I'll. show  thee  a  better  one"— Getting  into 
business. 

ON  the  21st  of  August,  1721,  James  Frank 
lin  published  the  first  number  of  the  New 
England    Courant.     This   was    a   noteworthy 
event,  as  being  the  fourth  newspaper  which 
appeared  in  America.* 

'  The  first  newspaper  issued  in  North  America,  was  print 
ed  in  Boston,  in  1690.  Only  one  copy  of  that  paper  was  known 
to  be  in  existence.  It  was  deposited  in  the  State  Paper  Office 
in  London,  and  was  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  sheet  of  let 
ter-paper.  It  was  stopped  by  the  government.  The  Boston 
News-Letter  was  the  first  regular  paper.  It  was  first  issued  in 
1704,  and  was  printed  by  John  Allen,  in  Bedding  Lane.*  The 
contents  of  some  of  the  early  numbers  were  very" peculiar.  It 
had  a  speech  of  Queen  Anne  to  Parliament,  delivered  120  days 


EARLY    AMKKICAX    NKWsPAPKKS. 

Some  of  his  friends  tried  to  persuade  him 
not  to  engage  in  the  undertaking,  on  the 
ground  that  it  could  not  possibly  succeed ;  as, 
in  their  opinion,  the  newspapers  already  in  ex 
istence  were  quite  enough  for  America. 

In  these  days,  when  every  thriving  village  in 
the  land  has  its  weekly  sheet,  and  the  larger 


previously,  and  this  was  the  latest  news  from  England.  In  one 
of  the  early  number^  there  was  an  announcement  that  by  order 
of  the  postmaster-general  of  North  America,  the  post  between 
Boston  and  New  York  sets  out  once  a  fortnight.  Negro  men, 
women,  and  children  were  advertised  to  be  sold  ;  and  a  call 
was  made  upon  a  woman  who  had  stolen  a  piece  of  fine  lace 
worth  fourteen  shillings  a  yard,  arid  upon  another  who  had 
conveyed  a  piece  of  fine  calico  under  her  riding-hood,  to  return 
the  same,  or  be  exposed  in  the  newspapers. 

This  pioneer  paper  was  published  for  74  years ;  it  was  the 
leading  Tory  paper,  prior  to  the  Revolution.  The  Boston  G-a- 
Z"ite.  was  the  organ  of  the  Patriots,  and  was  issued  at  Water- 
town.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  there 
were  but  thirty-seven  newspapers  in  the  United  States.  Of 
this  number  only  eight  were  committed  to  the  British  govern 
ment,  but  five  others  were  brought  over.  The  oldest  existing 
paper  in  Massachusetts  was  the  Worcester  Spy,  first  published 
in  this  city  during  1770,  but  removed  to  the  western  part  of  the 
State  on  the  occupation  of  Boston  by  the  British  troops.  Our 
country,  although  the  youngest  in  the  world,  outstrips  ail 
others  in  the  number  of  publications  and  newspapers  sold. 
The  number  of  copies  of  newspapers  printed  here  is  four  times 
greater  than  in  Great  Britain,  though  England  has  twice  as 
many  magazines.  The  number  of  religious  newspapers  here, 
and  the  extent  of  their  circulation,  forms  a  striking  social  char 
ter  eristic." — Publisher's  Circular. 


34  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

towns  issue  dailies  innumerable,  such  anticipa 
tions  of  failure  force  one  to  smile. 

James  Franklin  persevered  in  carrying  his 
purpose  into  effect,  and  his  brother  Benjamin 
besides  assisting  in  setting  the  types  and  print 
ing  oif  the  sheets,  was  employed  to  deliver  the 
papers  to  the  subscribers.  t  But  our  young- 
friend  was  ambitious  to  do  more  than  this,  and 
he  determined  to  try  his  hand  at  making  some 
communications  for  the  press. 

Being  a  mere  boy,  he  was  afraid  that  James 
would  object  to  printing  any  thing  of  his  in  the 
paper ;  he  accordingly  disguised  his  writing, 
and  put  his  little  piece  by  night  under  the  of 
fice  door. 

The  next  morning,  the  publisher  showed 
the  anonymous  communication  to  the  knot  of 
gentlemen  who  were  accustomed  to  meet  at 
the  printing-office  to  chat  about  politics.  They 
read  it,  spoke  of  it  with  approbation,  and  haz 
arded  various  conjectures  as  to  who  the  un 
known  author  could  be.  The  printer's  boy, 
who  was  listening  most  attentively  to  their 
conversation,  was  delighted  to  hear  them  at 
tribute  his  juvenile  production  to  several  indi 
viduals  of  high  standing  for  character  and  learn 
ing.  With  this  encouragement,  he  continued 


BECOMES    AN    EDITOR.  35 

his  contributions  to  the  paper,  in  the  same  mys 
terious  way,  until,  having  exhausted  his  stock 
of  information,  he  told  the  whole  story  to  his 
brother. 

James  was  much  surprised,  as  may  be  well 
supposed,  but  he  was  so  much  afraid  lest  Ben 
jamin  might  become  too  vain,  that  he  scarcely 
gave  him  the  credit  he  deserved ;  and  showed 
him,  on  various  occasions,  by  his  harsh  and 
tyrannical  treatment,  that  he  not  only  under 
stood  his  position  as  an  elder  brother,  but  as  a 
master  whom  his  apprentice  was  bound  im 
plicitly  to  obey. 

While  the  course  of  events  was  thus  flowing 
on  in  a  troubled  current,  a  piece  appeared  in 
the  New  England  Courant  which  gave  offence 
to  the  assembly,  and  James  Franklin  was  put 
in  prison  for  a  month,  because  he  would  not 
discover  the  author. 

Benjamin  was  also  brought  before  the  Coun 
cil  and  admonished. 

During  his  brother's  confinement,  he  had  the 
management  of  the  paper,  and  notwithstanding 
their  private  differences,  he  gave  the  rulers 
some  hard  rubs,  which  he  knew  would  be  grat 
ifying  to  James.  Other  persons,  however,  be 
gan  to  set  him  down  as  a  pert  young  fellow, 


36  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

who  was  quite  too  fond  of  satire.  The  pris 
oner's  discharge  was  accompanied  with  this  sa 
gacious  order  :  that  "  James  Franklin  should 
no  longer  print  the  newspaper,  called  The  New 
England  Courant" 

Some  of  his  friends  advised  him  to  evade  the 
order  by  changing  the  title  of  the  paper,  but 
he  thought  it  better  to  allow  it  to  be  issued  in 
the  name  of  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Fearing  lest  the  Assembly  might  arrest  him, 
as  still  printing  the  paper  by  his  apprentice,  he 
wrote  a  discharge  on  the  back  of  Benjamin's 
old  indenture,  to  be  shown  in  case  of  necessity, 
at  the  same  time  making  him  sign  a  fresh  agree 
ment,  which  was  to  be  kept  secret.  And  so 
The  New  England  Courant  appeared  for  sev 
eral  months,  with  the  printer's  boy  as  its  nom 
inal  editor. 

Fresh  difficulties  soon  arose  between  the 
brothers,  and  the  younger,  knowing  that  James 
would  be  afraid  to  disclose  the  nature  of  the 
arrangement  which  existed  between  them,  took 
advantage  of  the  discharge  from  his  apprentice 
ship,  and  left  the  office.  He  always  regretted 
this  as  one  of  the  wrong  acts  of  his  life. 

James  Franklin  took  good  care  that  his  re 
bellious  apprentice  should  obtain  no  employ- 


ARRIVAL    IX    PHILADELPHIA.  37 

inent  in  Boston,  and  the  lad,  through  the  as 
sistance  of  his  friend  Collins,  secured  his  pas 
sage  in  a  sloop  bound  for  New  York.  Accord 
ingly,  in  October,  1723,  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
he  found  himself  three  hundred  miles  from 
home,  a  stranger  in  that  city,  with  no  letters 
of  introduction,  and  with  very  little  money  in 
his  pocket.  Fortunately,  his  former  passion 
for  going  to  sea  had  left  him,  or  it  might  now 
have  been  readily  gratified.  Benjamin  offered 
his  services  to  Mr.  William  Bradford,  an  old- 
established  printer,  who  had  once  lived  in  Phil 
adelphia.  Pie  could  give  him  no  employment, 
but  advised  him  to  go  to  Pennsylvania.  "  My 
son  at  Philadelphia,"  he  said,  "has  lately  lost 
his  principal  hand,  Aquila  Rose,  by  death ;  if 
you  go  thither,  I  believe  he  may  employ  you." 
The  young  man  lost  no  time  in  following  this 
advice,  and  was  soon  on  his  way  to  the  Quaker 
City.  He  travelled  part  of  the  way  in  an  open 
boat,  and  part  on  foot,  and  after  some  curious 
adventures,  he  landed  at  Market-street  wharf, 
a,bout  nine  o'clock  on  a  bright  Sunday  morning 
in  October.  We  must  allow  him  to  describe 
his  entrance  into  that  city. 

"  I  was  in  my  working  dress,  my  best  clothes 
coming  round  by  sea.     I  was  dirty  from  my 


38  LIFK    OF    FRANKLIN. 

being  so  long  in  the  boat.  My  pockets  were 
stuffed  out  with  shirts  and  stockings,  and  I 
knew  no  one,  nor  where  to  look  for  lodging. 
Fatigued  with  walking,  rowing,  and  the  want 
of  sleep,  I  was  very  hungry ;  and  my  whole 
stock  of  cash  consisted  in  a  single  dollar,  and 
about  a  shilling  in  copper  coin,  which  I  gave 
to  the  boatmen  for  my  passage.  At  first  they 
refused  it,  on  account  of  my  having  rowed,  but 
I  insisted  on  their  taking  it.  Man  is  sometimes 
more  generous  when  he  has  little  money,  than 
when  he  has  plenty ;  perhaps  to  prevent  his 
being  thought  to  have  but  little. 

"I  walked  towards  the  top  of  the  street,  gaz 
ing  about,  till  near  Market-street,  where  I  met 
a  boy  with  bread.  I  had  often  made  a  meal  of 
dry  bread,  and,  inquiring  where  he  had  bought, 
I  went  immediately  to  the  baker's  he  directed 
me  to.  I  asked  for  biscuits,  meaning  such  as 
we  had  at  Boston ;  that  sort,  it  seems,  was  not 
made  in  Philadelphia.  I  then  asked  for  a 
three-penny  loaf,  and  was  told  they  had  none. 
Not  knowing  the  different  prices,  nor  the  names 
of  the  different  sorts  of  bread,  I  told  him  to 
give  me  three-penny  worth  of  any  sort.  lie 
gave  me,  accordingly,  three  great  puffy  rolls. 
I  was  surprised  at  the  quantity,  but  took  it, 


FIRST    MEAL    IN    PHILADELPHIA.  39 

and,  having  no  room  in  my  pockets,  walked 
off  with  a  roll  under  each  arm,  and  eating  the 
other.  Thus  I  went  up  Market-street  as  far  as 
Fourth-street,  passing  by  the  door  of  Mr.  Read, 
my  future  wife's  father,  when  she,  standing  at 
the  door  saw  me,  and  thought  I  made,  as  I  cer 
tainly  did,  a  most  awkward,  ridiculous  appear 
ance.  Then  I  turned  and  went  down  Chestnut- 
street  and  part  of  Walnut-street,  eating  my 
roll  all  the  way,  and,  coming  round,  found 
myself  again  at  Market-street  wharf,  near  the 
boat  I  came  in,  to  which  I  went  for  a  draught 
of  the  river  water ;  and,  being  tilled  with  one 
of  my  rolls,  gave  the  other  two  to  a  woman 
and  her  child  that  came  down  the  river  in  the 
boat  with  us,  and  were  waiting  to  go  farther. 

"Thus  refreshed,  I  walked  again  up  the 
street,  which  by  this  time  had  many  clean - 
dressed  people  in  it,  who  were  all  walking  the 
same  way.  I  joined  them,  and  thereby  was 
led  into  the  great  meeting-house  of  the  Qua 
kers,  near  the  market.  I  sat  down  among 
them,  and,  after  looking  round  a  while,  and 
hearing  nothing  said,  being  very  drowsy 
through  labor  and  want  of  rest  the  preceding 
night,  I  fell  fast  asleep,  and  continued  so  till 
the  meeting  broke  up,  when  some  one  was 


40 


LIFE    OK    FUANKIJX. 


kind  fenough  to  rouse  me.  This,  therefore,  was 
the  first  house  I  was  in,  or  slept  in,  in  Phila 
delphia.  I  then  walked  down  towards  the 
river,  and  looking  in  the  faces  of  every  one,  I 
met  a  young  Quaker  man,  whose  countenance 
pleased  me,  and,  accosting  him,  requested  he 
would  tell  me  where  a  stranger  could  get  a 
lodging.  We  were  then  near  the  sign  of  the 
Three  Mariners.  '  Here,'  said  he,  'is  a  house 
where  they  receive  strangers,  but  it  is  not  a 
reputable  one;  if  thee  wilt  walk  with  me,  I'll 
show  thee  a  better  one ;'  and  he  conducted  me 
to  the  Crooked  Billet  in  Water-street.  There 
I  got  a  dinner  ;  and  while  I  was  eating,  sever 
al  questions  were  asked  me,  as,  from  my 
youth  and  appearance,  I  was  suspected  of 
being  a  runaway. 

"After  dinner,  my  host  having  shown  me  tc 
a  bed,  I  laid  myself  on  it  without  undressing, 
and  slept  till  six  in  the  evening,  when  I  was 
called  to  supper.  I  went  to  bed  again  very 
early,  and  slept  very  soundly  till  the  next 
morning.  Then  I  dressed  myself  as  neat  as  I 
could,  and  went  to  Andrew  Bradford  the 
printer's.  I  found  in  the  shop  the  old  man 
his  father,  whom  I  had  seen  at  JNTew  York, 
and  who,  travelling  on  horseback,  had  got  to 


ENGAGEMENT    WITH     KKI.MKR.  41 

Philadelphia  before  me.  He  introduced  me 
to  his  con,  who  received  me  civilly,  gave  me  a 
breakfast,  but  told  me  he  did  not  at  present 
want  a  hand,  being  lately  supplied  with  one ; 
but  there  was  another  printer  in  town,  lately 
set  up,  one  Keimer,  who  perhaps  might  em 
ploy  me  ;  if  not,  I  should  be  welcome  to  lodge 
at  his  house,  and  he  would  give  me  a  little 
work  to  do  now  and  then,  till  fuller  business 
should  offer. 

"  The  old  gentleman  said  he  would  go  with 
me  to  the  new  printer  ;  and  when  we  found 
him,  'Neighbor,'  said  Bradford,  'I  have 
brought  to  see  you  a  young  man  of  your 
business  ;  perhaps  you  may  want  such  a  one.' 
He  asked  me  a  few  questions,  put  a  compos 
ing-stick  in  my  hand  to  see  how  I  worked, 
and  then  said  he  would  employ  me  soon, 
though  he  had  just  then  nothing  for  me  to  do. 
And,  taking  old  Bradford,  whom  he  had  never 
seen  before,  to  be  one  of  the  town's  people 
that  had  a  good  will  for  him,  entered  into  a 
conversation  on  his  present  undertaking  and 
prospects ;  while  Bradford,  not  discovering 
[not  making  known]  that  he  was  the  other 
printer's  father,  on  Keimer's  saying  he  expect 
ed  soon  to  get  the  greatest  part  of  the  business 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

into  his  own  hands,  drew  him  on,  by  artful 
questions,  and  starting  little  doubts,  to  explain 
all  his  views,  what  influence  he  relied  on,  and 
in  what  manner  he  intended  to  proceed.  I, 
who  stood  by  and  heard  all,  saw  immediately 
that  one  was  a  crafty  old  sophister,  and  the 
other  a  true  novice.  Bradford  left  me  with 
Keimer,  who  was  greatly  surprised  when  I 
told  him  who  the  old  man  was." 


CHAPTER    FOURTH. 

Keimer's  printing-house-Aquila  Rose-One  of  the  French 
prophets-Taking  board  at  Mr.  Read's-The  anguish  which 
parents  are  made  to  suffer  by  their  thoughtless  children—' 
retreat  of  the  runaway  discovered-Makes  the  acquaintance 
of  Sir  William  Keith— Large  promises— Franklin  goes  back 
to  Boston  for  money-Unsuccessful  result  of  his  application 
-Collins  costs  his  friend  a  pretty  penny-Sir  William  renews 
his  promises  on  a  larger  scale-Love  matters— The  Anms  sets 
sail_"  I  don't  know  such  a  person  !"-The  Governor's  false 
hoods  discovered -Making  the  best  of  circumstances  - 
Another  cause  of  regret. 

WE  left  Franklin,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
chapter,  in  Keimer's  printing-house.     It 
must  have  been  a  very  humble  establishment, 
as  it  could  only  boast  of  an  old  damaged  press, 
and  a  small  worn-out  fount  of  English  types. 

Keimer  was  at  this  time  engaged  in  com 
posing  an  Elegy  on  Aquila  Rose,*— the  young 
man  whose  death  had  been  mentioned  to 

*  A  brief  account  of  Aquila  Rose  and  Samuel  Keimer  will  be 
found  in  Duyckincks'  «  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Literature,' 
yol  i    p  97      Some  specimens  of  the  poetry  of  both  are  there 
presented;   also  the  elegy  composed  by  the  survivor  on  tho 
death  of  his  friend. 


44  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

Franklin,  while  he  tarried  in  New  York.  He 
was  much  respected  in  Philadelphia,  and  had 
been  secretary  to  the  assembly,  and  enjoyed 
some  reputation  as  a  poet. 

Samuel  Keimer  was  quite  a  character  in  hi& 
way.  A  native  of  the  old  world,  where  he 
had  been  one  of  the  French  prophets,  he  was 
disposed  to  set  up  in  America  as  the  Evan 
gelist  of  a  new  religion.  Although  something 
of  a  scholar,  he  knew  very  little  of  the  art  of 
printing;  and  Franklin  discovered,  before  they 
parted,  that  he  was  a  good  deal  of  a  knave. 

As  it  did  not  suit  Keimer's  ideas  of  propriety 
that  the  young  man,  while  employed  in  his 
office,  should  be  living  with  Bradford,  he  pro 
posed  to  get  lodgings  for  him  at  Mr.  Read's, 
with  whose  fair  daughter  we  are  already 
slightly  acquainted.  This  arrangement  was 
accordingly  made,  and  something  important 
grew  out  of  it,  as  we  shall  hereafter  have 
occasion  to  mention. 

Franklin  soon  began  to  make  acquaintances 
among  the  young  people  of  Philadelphia  who 
were  fond  of  reading,  and  he  spent  his  even 
ings  very  pleasantly. 

All  this  while  his  father's  family  had  receiv 
ed  no  information  concerning  him, —  his  friend 


\ 


SIR    WILLIAM    KEITH.  15 

Collins  keeping  the  secret  with  the  utmost  fi 
delity.  We  cannot  forbear  remarking  here, 
that  this  was  another  grave  error  in  the  young 
man's  career,  which  no  doubt  occasioned  him 
many  disquieting  thoughts  afterwards. 

Giddy  youths  are  too  apt  to  forget  how 
much  anguish  anxious  parents  suffer  on  their 
account ;  and  they  should  endeavor  to  be 
more  considerate  towards  those  whose  tender 
affection  can  never  be  fully  repaid. 

An  incident  now  occurred,  which  occasioned 
Franklin's  return  home  sooner  than  he  had 
intended.  He  had  a  brother-in-law,  Robert 
Homesj  the  master  of  a  little  sloop  which  plied 
between  Boston  and  Delaware.  While  the 
vessel  was  lying  at  New  Castle,  forty  miles  be 
low  Philadelphia,  he  accidentally  heard  where 
the  young  printer  was,  and  wrote  him  a  kind 
letter,  telling  him  of  the  distress  of  his  rela 
tives  011  his  account,  and  advising  him  to  go 
back  to  Boston.  Franklin  replied  to  this  com 
munication,  making  out  a  pretty  strong  case 
for  himself.  It  so  happened  that  Sir  William 
Keith,  governor  of  the  province,  was  then  at 
New  Castle,  and  Captain  Homes,  when  the 
answer  came,  spoke  to  his  excellency  of  his 
truant  brother-in-law,  and  showed  him  the 


46  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

epistle.  The  governor  was  astonished  when 
he  was  told  the  writer's  age,  and  began  to  talk 
in  his  usual  large  way  of  the  great  things 
which  he  was  disposed  to  do  for  so  promising 
a  youth.  Upon  returning  to  Philadelphia,  Sir 
William  very  condescendingly  called  at  the 
printing-office,  and  introduced  himself  to  the 
astonished  journeyman,  and  insisted  upon  his 
coinino;  to  see  him  at  his  own  house.  The 

O 

governor  proposed  to  Franklin  to  set  up  busi 
ness  for  himself,  and  promised  to  secure  the 
public  printing  for  him  ;  at  the  same  time 
urging  him  to  go  at  once  to  Boston  and  obtain 
pecuniary  assistance  from  his  father. 

About  the  end  of  April,  1724,  a  little  vessel 
was  advertised  to  sail  for  Massachusetts,  and 
the  young  man  set  off  for  home,  carrying  a 
most  flattering  letter  from  Sir  William,  in 
which  his  former  promises  were  repeated,  in 
even  stronger  terms  than  before.  After  a  two 
weeks'  voyage,  he  landed  at  Boston,  having 
been  absent  about  seven  months. 

His  appearance  occasioned  much  surprise, 
and  his  parents  rejoiced  over  their  lost  son. 

Mr.  Josiah  Franklin  was  a  man  of  too  much 
solid  sense  to  take  mere  words  for  more  than 
they  were  worth ;  and  while  he  rejoiced  t< 


RETURN    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  47 

hear  so  good  an  account  of  Benjamin,  he 
thought  it  better  for  him  to  work  on  quietly 
in  a  small  way  until  he  became  of  age,  when 
he  would  be  ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to 
advance  his  interests. 

Young  Collins  was  so  much  pleased  with  his 
friend's  account  of  Philadelphia,  that  he  set 
off  without  delay  to  try  his  fortune  there  him 
self.  When  Franklin  stopped  at  New  York 
to  inquire  for  him,  on  his  return  to  Phila 
delphia,  he  found  him  in  a  wretched  plight, 
having  spent  all  his  money  in  drinking  and 
gambling,  and  our  young  printer  was  "obliged 
to  pay  his  bills  at  the  lodging-house,  and  ad 
vance  him  means  to  prosecute  the  journey. 

While  tarrying  in  E~ew  York,  Franklin, 
strangely  enough,  made  the  acquaintance  of 
another  eminent  personage.  This  was  Gover 
nor  Bur  net,  son  of  the  famous  bishop  of  that 
name. 

Franklin  at  last  got  safely  back  to  Phila 
delphia  with  his  dissipated  companion,  who 
continued  to  impose  on  his  generosity  until, 
being'  invited  to  go  to  Barbados  as  a  teacher, 
we  lose  sight  of  him  altogether. 

Governor  Keith  professed  to  be  disappoint 
ed  at  the  result  of  the  trip  to  Boston,  but  de- 


-  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

clared  that  if  the  young  man's  father  was  too 
prudent  to  risk  any  thing  for  him,  he  would 
establish  him  in  business  at  his  own  cost. 

All  this  sounded  so  fair,  that  Franklin  had 
not  a  doubt  of  his  sincerity,  and  began  to 
build  line  castles  in  the  air,  which  he  after 
wards  discovered  were  resting  on  very  unsub 
stantial  foundations. 

Thus  far  these  grand  prospects  had  been  kept 
a  profound  secret,  or  it  is  probable  that  some 
friend,  who, knew  the  governor  better,  would 
have  advised  the  unsuspecting  youth  not  to 
rely  on  him  too  implicitly. 

Every  thing  seemed  to  be  going  on  swim 
mingly.  At  Sir  William's  suggestion,  Frank 
lin  had  made  out  a  list  of  what  would  be 
needed  in  his  printing-office,  with  a  view  oi 
sending  to  England  for  them,  when  the  fair- 
spoken  governor  remarked  that  perhaps  he 
had  better  go  over  and  select  the  type  and 
other  necessaries  himself.  "  Then,"  said  he, 
"  while  there,  you  may  make  acquaintance, 
and  establish  correspondences  in  the  booksell 
ing  and  stationery  line." 

Franklin  agreed  that  this  might  be  advanta 
geous,  when  the  governor  added,  "Then  get 
yourself  ready  to  go  with  the  Annis,"  which 


ATTENTIONS    TO    MISS    KUID.  49 

was  the  yearly  ship,  and  the  only  one  passing 
between  London  and  Philadelphia. 

As  some  months  would  elapse  before  the 
ship  sailed,  the  young  man  continued  to  work 
with  Keimer,  who  little  suspected  all  the  grand 
schemes  which  had  been  contrived. 

Meanwhile,  Miss  Read  is  found  to  be  a  very 
agreeable  person,  and  Franklin  pays  her  a 
£rood  deal  of  attention,  which  finally  ends  in 
his  making  proposals  of  marriage.  As  a  long 
and  dangerous  voyage  \vas  about  to  be  made, 
and  the  parties  were  both  very  young,  it  was 
prudently  arranged  by  the  fair  girl's  mother, 
that  no  positive  engagement  should  be  entered 
into  until  the  printer  should  come  back  from 
England,  and  become  settled  in  business. 

o 

As  the  time  for  his  departure  drew  nearer. 
Franklin  called  upon  the  governor  for  the  let 
ters  of  introduction  which  had  been  promised 
him,  but  was  put  off  from  day  to  day,  under 
various  pretences,  until  the  Annis  was  actually 
spreading  her  sails  for  the  voyage. 

He  then  hastened  to  Sir  William's  house  to 
take  his  leave  and  receive  the  letters,  when  his 
secretary  came  out  and  said  that  his  excellency 
was  particularly  engaged,  but  that  the  letters 
should  be  sent  in  good  season;  at  the  same 

5 


50  LIFE    OF    FKANKLIN. 

time  wishing  him  a  good  voyage  and  a  speedy 
return.  Franklin  was  a  little  puzzled,  but  be 
lieving  that  all  would  be  right  in  the  end,  he 
gave  himself  no  farther  concern  about  it  until 
the  ship  had  got  out  upon  the  broad  ocean. 
Understanding  that  Governor  Keith's  despatch 
es  had  been  brought  to  the  captain,  he  asked 
him  for  the  letters  that  were  to  be  under  his 
care.  The  officer  replied  that  all  were  put 
into  the  mail-bag  together,  but  that  before  they 
reached  England,  he  should  have  an  opportu 
nity  of  selecting  them  for  himself.  With  a 
pleasant  company,  and  good  living,  the  time 
passed  quickly  away  ;  and  when  they  entered 
the  Channel,  the  captain  kept  his  word. 

Franklin  looked  over  the  letters,  and  found 
some  upon  which  his  name  had  been  put,  as 
being  under  his  care,  and  also  a  few  others 
which  were  addressed  to  booksellers  and  sta 
tioners,  which  he  supposed  might  be  intended 
for  him.  Arriving  in  London  OD  the  24th  of 
December,  1724,  he  waited  first  upon  the  sta 
tioner,  delivering  the  letter  as  from  Governor 
Keith.  "I  don't  know  such  a  person,"  said 
he ;  but  opening  the  letter,  he  continued,  "  oh  ! 
this  is  from  Kiddlesden.  I  have  lately  found 
him  to  be  a  complete  rascal,  and  I  will  have 


A    FOOLISH    HABIT.  51 

nothing  more  to  do  with  him,  nor  receive  any 
letters  from  him."  So  saying,  he  handed  the 
epistle  to  the  astonished  youth,  and  turning  on 
his  heel,  went  back  to  serve  a  customer. 

Franklin's  eyes  were  now  opened,  and  he 
discovered,  with  no  little  mortification,  that 
the  governor  had  been  practising  a  gross  de 
ception  upon  him. 

Such  conduct  on  the  part  of  Sir  William 
appears  almost  unaccountable.  It  is  a  simple 
act  of  justice  to  the  English  government  to 
to  mention,  that  he  was  not  an  officer  appoint 
ed  by  the  crown,  but  one  of  the  creatures  of 
of  the  Proprietaries.  The  descendants  of  Penn 
selected  governors  of  Pennsylvania  to  share 
with  themselves  the  perquisites  of  place,  even 
to  the  degree  of  participating  in  the  gratuities 
which  they  were  able  to  get  by  special  vote  of 
obsequious  legislative  assemblies. 

Sir  William  Keith  sometimes  disregarded 
the  instructions  of  the  Proprietaries,  but  there 
is  no  doubt  but  that  he  was  chosen  at  first 
under  the  impression  that  he  would  be  a 
pliant  and  obedient  servant.  He  had  acquired 
a  foolish  habit  of  saying  agreeable  things  to 
everybody,  and  this  is  perhaps  the  secret  of 
his  shameless  behavior  towards  the  poor 


52  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

printer-boy.  Franklin  found  himself  in  an 
extremely  awkward  position,  but  with  his 
accustomed  philosophy,  he  made  the  best  of 
circumstances,  and  began  to  work  at  Palmer's, 
a  famous  London  printing-house,  where  he 
continued  almost  a  year.  We  regret  to  say 
that  during  this  period  he  wras  exceedingly 
remiss  about  writing  to  the  confiding  girl,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  ocean,  whose  affections 
he  had  so  successfully  won.  This  was  another 
error  of  his  life,  upon  which  he  always  looked 
back  with  sorrow. 


CHAPTER    FIFTH. 

Lessons  in  frugality  and  sobriety — "  The  Water- American" — 
A  new  friend— Experiments  in  swimming— How  to  learn  this 
art — Curious  experiment— Franklin  returns  to  Philadelphia — 
Changes  among  old  acquaintances — Brief  career  as  a  merchant 
— In  Keimer's  office  once  more— A  new  firm — The  Junto — 
Editing  a  newspaper — A  library  established — One  partner 
doing  the  work  of  both— A  better  arrangement— Characteris 
tic  anecdote — An  essay  on  paper  currency — Marriage. 

WHILE  working  in  the  London  printing- 
house,  Franklin  tried  to  teach  his  fellow- 
apprentices  some  of  his  own  frugal  and  tem 
perate  habits.  They  were  accustomed  to  spend 
a  large  part  of  their  daily  earnings  at  tippling- 
houses,  under  the  impression  that  their  strength 
could  only  be  kept  up  by  drinking  strong 
beer.  Franklin,  on  the  contrary,  insisted  that 
good  cold  water  would  serve  even  a  better 
purpose,  and  the  English  workmen  were 
obliged  to  confess  that  the  Water- American, 
as  they  called  him,  could  perform  more  labor 
than  themselves.  Probably,  he  found  very 
few  who  were  willing  to  follow  his  example, 
no  matter  how  clearly  his  point  was  establish- 


54r  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

ed.  During  his  sojourn  in  London,  our  hero 
became  acquainted  with  a  young  man  named 
Wygate,  who,  having  wealthy  relations,  had 
been  better  educated  than  most  of  printers. 
He  was  a  tolerable  Latin  scholar,  and  spoke 
French,  and  the  two  friends  were  of  great 
benefit  to  each  other. 

Among  other  things,  Franklin  taught  Wy- 
gate  to  swim, — an  accomplishment  in  which 
the  Boston  lad  greatly  excelled. 

In  a  letter  written  long  afterwards,  the 
great  American  philosopher  thus  speaks  on 
the  subject: 

u  I  do  not  know  how  far  corks  or  bladders, 
may  be  useful  in  learning  to  swim,  having 
never  seen  much  trial  of  them.  Possibly, 
they  may  be  of  service  in  supporting  the  body 
while  you  are  learning  what  is  called  the 
stroke,  or  that  manner  of  drawing  in  and 
striking  out  the  hands  and  feet,  that  is  neces 
sary  to  produce  progressive  motion.  But  you 
will  be  no  swimmer  till  you  can  place  some 
confidence  in  the  power  of  the  water  to  sup 
port  you;  I  would  therefore  advise  the  acquir 
ing  that  confidence  in  the  first  place ;  espe 
cially,  as  I  have  known  several,  who,  by  a 
little  of  the  practice  necessary  for  that  purpose, 


LEARNING    TO    SWIM.  55 

have  insensibly  acquired  the  stroke,  taught  as 
it  were  by  nature.  The  practice  I  mean  is 
this.  Choosing  a  place  where  the  water  deep- 
"ens  gradually,  walk  coolly  into  it  till  it  is  up 
to  your  breast,  then  turn  round,  your  face  to 
the  shore,  and  throw  an  egg  into  the  water 
between  you  and  the  shore.  It  will  sink  to 
the  bottom,  and  be  easily  seen  there,  as  your 
water  is  clear.  It  must  lie  in  water  so  deep 
as  that  you  cannot  reach  it  to  take  it  up  but 
by  diving  for  it.  To  encourage  yourself  in 
order  to  do  this,  reflect  that  your  progress 
will  be  from  deeper  to  shallower  water,  and 
that  at  any  time  you  may,  by  bringing  your 
legs  under  you  and  standing  on  the  bottom, 
raise  your  head  far  above  the  water.  Then 
plunge  under  it  with  your  eyes  open,  throw 
ing  yourself  towrards  the  egg,  and  endeavoring 
by  the  action  of  your  hands  and  feet  against 
the  water,  to  get  forward  till  within  reach  of 
it.  In  this  attempt  you  will  find  that  the 
water  buoys  you  up  against  your  inclination  ; 
that  it  is  not  so  easy  a  thing  to  sink  as  you  im 
agined  ;  that  you  cannot  but  by  active  force  get 
down  to  the  egg.  Thus  you  feel  the  power  of 
the  water  to  support  you,  and  learn  to  confide 
in  that  power;  while  your  endeavors  to  over- 


56  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN'. 

come  it,  and  to  reach  the  egg,  teach  you  the 
manner  of  acting  on  the  water  with  your  feet, 
and  hands,  which  action  is  afterwards  used  in 
swimming,  to  support  your  head  higher  above 
water,  or  to  go  forward  through  it." 

Again,  in  another  letter  to  a  different  per 
son,  he  adds  the  following  interesting  observa 
tions  : 

"  When  I  was  a  boy,  I  amused  myself  one 
day  with  flying  a  kite ;  and  approaching  the 
bank  of  a  pond,  which  was  near  a  mile  broad, 
I  tied  the  string  to  a  stake,  and  the  kite 
ascended  to  a  very  considerable  height  above 
the  pond,  while  I  was  swimming.  In  a  little 
time,  being  desirous  of  amusing  myself  with 
my  kite,  and  enjoying  at  the  same  time  the 
pleasure  of  swimming,  I  returned,  and,  loos 
ing  from  the  stake  the  string  with  the  little 
stick  which  was  fastened  to  it,  went  again 
into  the  water,  where  I  found,  that,  lying  on 
my  back,  and  holding  the  stick  in  my  hands, 
I  was  drawn  along  the  surface  of  the  water  in 
a  very  agreeable  manner.  Having  then  en 
gaged  another  boy  to  carry  my  clothes  round 
the  pond,  to  a  place  which  I  pointed  out  to 
him  on  the  other  side,  I  began  to  cross  the 
pond  with  my  kite,  which  carried  me  quite 


RETURNS    FROM    LOKDOJ?.  57 

over  without  the  least  fatigue,  and  with  the 
greatest  pleasure  imaginable.  I  was  only 
obliged-  occasionally  to  halt  a  little  in  my 
course,  and  resist  its  progress,  when  it  appear 
ed  that,  by  following  too  quick,  I  lowered  the 
kite  too  much ;  by  doing  which  occasionally, 
I  made  it  rise  as;ain.  I  have  never  since  that 

O 

time  practised  this  singular  mode  of  swim 
ming,  though  I  think  it  not  impossible  to  cross 
in  this  manner,  from  Dover  to  Calais.  The 
packet-boat,  however,  is  still  preferable."* 

When  Franklin  had  spent  almost  eighteen 
months  in  London,  a  good  offer  was  made  him 
to  return  to  Philadelphia,  and  engage  in  the 
mercantile  business,  and  as  he  had  begun  to 
feel  weary  of  so  long  an  absence  from  his 
native  land,  he  gladly  embraced  it.  Sailing 
from  Gravesend  on  the  23d  of  July,  1726,  he 
landed  at  Philadelphia  on  the  llth  of  October, 
where  he  found  that  various  changes  had 
taken  place.  He  kept  a  journal  of  the  voyage, 
which  is  published  as  an  appendix  to  Sparks' 
Biography. 

Sir  William  Keith  had  been  superseded  as 
governor  by  Major  Gordon.  Franklin  occa- 

*  Sparks,  vol.  vi.,  pp.  237,  293. 


58  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

sionally  met  his  old  acquaintance  walking  the 
streets  as  a  common  citizen  ;  but  the  deceitful 
man  seemed  ashamed  at  seeing  him,  and  they 
passed  each  other  without  exchanging  a  word. 
The  young  man  himself  was  ready,  perhaps, 
to  make  more  allowance  for  Sir  William's 
conduct,  when  he  thought  of  his  own  neglect 
of  Miss  Eead. 

Poor  girl,  she  had  suffered  much  anxiety  and 
mortification,  and  as  her  friends  despaired  of 
ever  hearing  from  her  thoughtless  admirer 
again,  they  had  persuaded  her  to  marry  a  pot 
ter,  named  Rogers.  He  proved  to  be  a  tri 
fling,  dissipated  fellow,  and  they  soon  parted. 
Rogers  got  into  debt  and  ran  off  to  the  West 
Indies,  where  he  died. 

Franklin  was  now  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the 
store  of  Mr.  Denham,  the  worthy  Quaker  mer 
chant  with  whom  he  had  come  over  from  Lon 
don  ;  and  every  thing  went  on  successfully  un 
til  1727,  when  both  of  them  were  taken  very 
sick.  Mr.  Denhani  died,  and  the  young  man 
made  a  narrow  escape  from  the  grave.  Once 
more  thrown  upon  the  wide  world,  he  accepted 
a  situation  with  his  old  employer,  Keimer,  who 
had  increased  his  business  considerably,  and 
was  doing  well. 


HUGH    MEREDITH.  59 

Franklin  found  a  number  of  raw  hands  in  the 
office,  whom  he  was  expected  to  regulate  and  in 
struct,  and  his  employer  had  determined  in  his 
own  mind,  that  when  these  had  learned  to  do  the 
work  to  his  satisfaction,  he  would  dismiss  the 
young  man,  whose  wages  would  thus  be  saved. 

The  principal  and  his  assistant  soon  quar 
relled,  and  the  latter  left  the  office. 

One  of  our  young  friend's  associates  in 
"Keimer's  office  was  Hugh  Meredith,  a  Welsh 
Pennsylvania!!,  thirty  years  of  age,  an  honest, 
sensible  man,  but  somewhat  disposed  to  intem 
perance.  He  had  become  much  attached  to 
Franklin,  and  when  the  disagreement  with 
Keimer  occurred,  he  proposed  that  they  should 
form  a  partnership  themselves,  Meredith  feel 
ing  sure  that  his  father  would  be  willing  to  ad 
vance  money  for  the  purpose. 

After  various  difficulties,  which  were  all 
finally  settled,  this  arrangement  was  made,  and 
Franklin  and  Meredith  began  their  career  as 
printers. 

At  this  time  there  was  not  a  good  book 
seller's  shop  in  any  of  the  colonies  south  of 
Boston ;  the  printers  of  New  York  and  Phila 
delphia  selling  only  paper,  almanacs,  ballads, 
and  a  few  ordinary  school-books. 


60  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN'. 

Some  months  before  he  set  up  in  business, 
Franklin  organized  a  sort  of  literary  club 
among  the  young  men  of  Philadelphia,  called 
the  JUNTO,  which  met  one  evening  in  a  week 
for  debating  various  questions  in  morals,  pol 
itics,  and  natural  philosophy.  As  the  members 
of  the  club  were  generally  fond  of  reading,  and 
books  were  hard  to  be  obtained,  it  was  proposed 
that  they  should  bring  together  all  the  volumes 
they  possessed,  and  thus  form  the  nucleus  of  a 
small  library.  Finding  the  advantage  of  this 
little  collection,  Franklin  recommended  that  a 
subscription  should  be  opened  for  a  public  li 
brary, — drawing  up  the  plan  and  rules  himself, 
and  being  the  chief  agent  in  its  successful  or 
ganization. 

The  Junto  lasted  many  years,  and  was  a 
means  not  only  of  improvement,  but  of  politi 
cal  influence,  as  his  opportunities  for  exercising 
it  increased. 

In  September,  1729,  the  two  young  printers 
purchased  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette,  which 
had  then  only  reached  its  fortieth  number; — 
and  it  now  appeared  in  a  new  and  better  dress, 
and  was  conducted  with  considerable  ability. 
Aside  from  the  money  which  he  had  furnished, 
Meredith  was  of  little  service,  as  he  was  no 


A    CHARACTERISTIC    ANECDOTE.  61 

compositor,  a  poor  pressman,  and  seldom  sober. 
Franklin,  therefore,  had  the  principal  share  of 
the  burden  to  sustain.  His  friends  regretted 
his  connection  with  so  thriftless  a  partner,  but 
he  tried  to  make  the  best  of  it.  No  indifferent 
work  was  allowed  to  go  out  of  the  office,  and 
people  soon  began  to  discover  the  difference 
between  the  coarse,  blundering  way  in  which 
jobs  were  done  elsewhere,  and  the  elegance  and 
correctness  which  distinguished  the  issues  of 
the  new  office.  The  consequence  was,  that  the 
public  printing  was  transferred  to  it,  and  pros 
pects  began  to  brighten  daily. 

The  enterprising  editor,  now  in  his  twenty- 
third  year,  wielded  the  pen  with  a  bold  hand, 
and  some  remarks  which  lie  made  on  an  excit 
ing  controversy  of  the  day,  added  many  to  the 
list  of  subscribers  to  the  Gazette. 

A  characteristic  anecdote  has  been  related 
of  Franklin,  illustrative  of  his  independence  as 
an  editor.  Soon  after  the  establishment  of  his 
newspaper,  he  found  occasion  to  remark,  with 
some  degree  of  freedom,  on  the  public  conduct 
of  one  or  two  persons  of  high  standing  in  Phil 
adelphia.  This  course  was  disapproved  by 
some  of  his  patrons,  who  sought  an  opportunity 
to  convey  to  him  their  views  of  the  subject, 


62  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

and  what  they  represented  to  be  the  opinion 
of  his  friends.  He  listened  patiently,  and  re 
plied  by  requesting  that  they  would  favor  him 
with  their  company  at  supper,  and  bring  with 
them  the  other  gentlemen  who  had  expressed 
dissatisfaction.  The  time  arrived,  ..and  the 
guests  assembled.  He  received  them  cordially, 
and  listened  again  to  their  friendly  reproofs  of 
his  editorial  conduct.  At  length  supper  was 
announced ;  but,  when  the  guests  had  seated 
themselves  around  the  table,  they  were  sur 
prised  to  see  nothing  before  them  but  two  pud 
dings,  made  of  coarse  meal,  called  sawdust 
puddings  in  the  common  phrase,  and  a  stone 
pitcher  filled  with  water.  He  helped  them  all, 
and  then  applied  himself  to  his  own  plate,  par 
taking  freely  of  the  repast,  and  urging  his 
friends  to  do  the  same.  They  taxed  their  po 
liteness  to  the  utmost,  but  all  in  vain ;  their 
appetites  refused  obedience  to  the  will.  Per 
ceiving  their  difficulty,  Franklin  at  last  arose 
and  said :  "  J\£y  friends,  any  one  who  can  sub 
sist  upon  sawdust  pudding  and  water,  as  I  can, 
needs  no  man's  patronage" 

In  1730,  Franklin  was  released  from  his  long 
engagement  with  Meredith,  whose  father  had 
been  unable  to  advance  as  much  as  had  been 


MAKKIES    MISS    EEAD.  63 

promised  for  the  establishment  of  the  young 
men  in  business.  By  this  time,  however,  other 
friends  who  had  observed  the  prudence,  indus 
try,  and  sobriety  with  which  he  had  managed 
his  affairs,  came  forward  to  aid  him,  and  he 
began  to  feel  himself  on  the  high  road  to  suc 
cess.  He  had  done  himself  some  credit  by  the 
publication  of  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  A  Modest 
Inquiry  into  the  Nature  and  Necessity  of  a 
Paper  Currency  ;"  and  in  the  autumn  of  1730 
he  added  to  his  happiness  by  marrying  Miss 
Read,  who  had  long  been  dejected  and  miser 
able,  and  for  whose  sufferings  he  knew  that  he 
was  in  a  great  measure  accountable. 


CHAPTER  SIXTH. 

Rewards  of  diligence— Standing  before  kings— An  industrious 
wile — The  first  silver  spoons— Novel  mode  of  dealing  with 
loungers  — Poor  Richard's  Almanac  — Franklin's  religious 
views  at  this  stage  of  his  career— Clinging  to  Presbyterian- 
ism  as  long  as  he  could— The  eloquent  preacher  who  wrote 
but  poorly— Becomes  acquainted  with  the  Church— A  pew- 
holder  for  sixty  years— Attending  worship  under  difficulties 
—Resumes  his  studies— Visit  to  Boston— Last  interview  with 
his  brother  James— Clerk  of  the  Assembly— Appointed  post 
master — A  prayer-book  stolen. 

JOSIAH  FRANKLIN  had  so  often  repeated 
to  his  son  the  proverb  of  Solomon,  "  Seest 
them  a  man  diligent  in  his  calling;  he  shall  yet 
stand  before  kings,  he  shall  not  stand  before 
mean  men,"  that  he  was  naturally  inclined  to  be 
industrious  and  frugal.  He  playfully  observes 
in  his  autobiography, "  Though  I  did  riot  think 
that  I  should  ever  literally  stand  before  kings, 
I  have  stood  before  live,  and  even  had  the 
honor  of  sitting  down  with  one,  the  King  of 
Denmark,  to  dinner." 

Franklin's  efforts  to  rise  in  the  world  would 
have  been  effectually  defeated,  had  his  wife 
been  indisposed  to  aid  him;  but  she  cheerfully 


FIRST    PLATE    AND    CHINA.  65 

folded  and  stitched  pamphlets,  kept  shop,  and 
bought  rags  for  the  paper-makers,  besides  at 
tending  to  her  household  duties.  They  em 
ployed  no  idle  servants,  their  table  was  plain 
and  simple,  and  their  furniture  of  the  cheapest 
sort. 

The  printer's  breakfast  consisted,  for  a  long 
while,  of  bread  and  milk,  which  was  eaten 
out  of  a  twopenny  earthen  porringer,  with  a 
pewter  spoon.  "  But  mark"  he  says,  "  how 
luxury  will  enter  families,  and  make  a  prog 
ress,  in  spite  of  principle.  Being  called  one 
morning  to  breakfast,  I  found  it  in  a  china 
bowl,  with  a  spoon  of  silver!  They  had  been 
bought  for  me  without  my  knowledge  by  my 
wife,  and  had  cost  her  the  enormous  sum  of 
three-and-twenty  shillings;  for  which  she  had 
no  other  excuse  or  apology  to  make,  but  that 
she  thought  Tier  husband  deserved  a  silver 
spoon  and  china  bowl  as  well  as  any  of  his 
neighbors.  This  was  the  first  appearance  of 
plate  and  china  in  our  house;  which  after 
wards,  in  a  course  of  years,  as  our  wealth 
increased,  augmented  gradually  to  several 
hundred  pounds  in  value." 

The  following  story  is  told  of  Franklin's 
mode  of  treating  the  idle  persons  who  are  dis- 

6* 


66  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

posed  to  lounge  about  the  shops  of  their  more 
industrious  acquaintances.  One  fine  morning 
when  the  young  printer  was  busy  in  prepar 
ing  his  newspaper  for  the  press,  a  lazy  fellow 
stepped  into  the  store,  and  spent  an  hour  or 
more  looking  over  the  books,  and  taking  one 
in  his  hand,  asked  the  shop-boy  the  price. 

"One  dollar,"  was  the  answer.  "One  dol 
lar,"  said  the  lounger,  "  can't  you  take  less 
than  that?"  "No,  sir;  one  dollar  is  the 
price." 

Another  hour  had  nearly  passed,  when  the 
lounger  asked,  "Is  Mr.  Franklin  at  home?'' 
"  Yes,  he  is  in  the  printing-office."  "  I  want 
to  see  him,"  said  the  lounger. 

The  shop-boy  immediately  informed  Mr. 
Franklin  that  a  gentleman  was  in  the  store 
waiting  to  see  him.  Franklin  was  soon  behind 
the  counter,  when  the  lounger,  with  book  in 
hand,  addressed  him  thus  : 

"  Mr.  Franklin,  what  is  the  lowest  you  can 
take  for  this  book  ?" 

"  One  dollar  and  a  quarter,"  was  the  ready 
answer. 

"  One  dollar  and  a  quarter !  "Why  your 
young  man  asked  only  a  dollar." 

"True,"  said  Franklin  ;  "  and  I  could  better 


67 

afford  to  have  taken  a  dollar  then,  than  to 
have  been  taken  out  of  the  office." 

The  lounger  seemed  surprised,  and  wishing 
to  end  the  parley  of  his  own  making,  he  said, 

"  Come,  Mr.  Franklin,  tell  me  what  is  the 
lowest  you  can  take  for  it." 

"  One  dollar  and  a  half." 

"  A  dollar  and  a  half!  Why  you  offered  it 
yourself  for  a  dollar  and  a  quarter." 

"  Yes,"  said  Franklin  ;  "  and  I  had  better 
have  taken  that  price  then,  than  a  dollar  and 
a  half  now." 

The  lounger  paid  down  the  price,  and  went 
about  his  business — if  he  had  any — and  Frank 
lin  returned  into  the  printing-office.* 

In  1732,  Franklin  first  published  his  popu- 

*  "  When  I  first  visited  Philadelphia"  remarks  General 
Scott,  in  a  communication  to  the  writer,  "  almost  half  a  century 
ago,  many  elderly  people  there  abounded  in  unedited  anecdotes 
of  Dr.  Franklin.  I  believe  I  can  at  this  moment  only  recall 
two  of  any  characteristic  merit. 

"Without  any  journeyman,  apprentice,  or  shop-boy,  though 
lie  kept  a  few  shelves  of  books  and  stationery  for  sale,  he 
brought  down  a  form  of  types  into  the  store,  at  which  he  work 
ed  in  the  absence  of  customers  ;  while,  to  ssave  time  and  breath, 
lie  wrote  on  the  outer  door,  '  Walk  in,  without  knocking  /'  a  con 
trivance  supposed  to  be  original  with  him.  While  thus  employ 
ed,  and  in  the  act  of  setting  up  the*  word  no,  an  Ephraim 
Broadbrim,  who,  drawling,  made  long  pauses  between  words 
and  syllables,  came  in  and  inquired,  '  Does  friend  Ow-en  live 


68  OFK    OF    FHANKUN*. 

lar  almanac,  under  the  name  of  Richard 
Saunders,  which  was  continued  for  about 
twenty-five  years,  and  commonly  called  "  Pool- 
Richard's  Almanac."  He  endeavored  to  make 
it  both  entertaining  and  useful,  and  it  came  to 
be  in  such  demand,  that  he  often  sold  ten 
thousand  copies  annually,  and  derived  consid 
erable  profit  from  it.  As  the  almanac  circu 
lated  among  many  families  who  had  few 
books,  he  took  care  to  fill  all  the  little  spaces 
between  the  remarkable  days  of  the  calendar, 
with  practical  sentences,  and  instructive  hints 
in  matters  of  morality  and  virtue. 

And  this  reminds  us  to  say  something  of 
Franklin's  religious  opinions,  at  this  stage  of 
his  history.  We  mentioned  before,  the  early 
dislike  and  abhorrence  which  he  cherished  for 
the  Puritan  system,  in  which  he  had  been 
trained  up,  and  by  the  time  he  was  fifteen,  as 
he  honestly  confesses,  he  had  become  a  thor 
ough  Deist.  It  is  awful  to  think  of  a  young 
man  occupying  such  a  position  as  this. 

here?'     Franklin  replied,  with  a  jause  between  the  letters, 

"During  his  residence  in  France,  Dr.  Franklin  remarked,  on  a 
certuin  occasion,  that  '  In  making  a  fortune,  enough  is  just  a 
little  more  than  one  hasl'  " 


STRIVING    AFTKR    PKRFKCTTOX.  69 

Further  reading  and  reflection  convinced 
him  of  his  error,  and  although  he  still  shrunk 
back  from  adopting  such  dogmas  as  the  eter 
nal  decrees  of  God,  election,  and  reprobation, 
he  lent  his  influence  to  further  the  cause  of 
Presbyterianism  in  Philadelphia,  out  of  re 
spect  to  his  parents,  and  cheerfully  paid  his 
yearly  quota  towards  the  preacher's  support. 
He  was  not  then  a  regular  attendant  upon 
public  worship,  having  been  provoked  that  the 
discourses  which  he  heard,  when  he  did  go, 
were  too  controversial,  and  showing  a  greater 
anxiety  to  make  people  bigoted  Presbyterians 
than  good  citizens. 

Franklin  about  this  time  conceived  the  bold 
idea  of  arriving  at  moral  perfection, — and  lay 
ing  down  for  himself  a  set  of  rigid  rules  which 
he  determined  strictly  to  observe.  The  exper 
iment  ended  as  might  be  supposed.  Without 
the  help  of  God's  grace,  sought  for  in  prayer, 
and  in  the  diligent  use  of  other  appointed 
means,  all  our  efforts  at  right  doing  will  prove 
ineffectual  and  vain.  In  1734,  a  young  Pres 
byterian  preacher  arrived  in  Philadelphia, 
who  delivered  with  a  good  voice  and  appar 
ently  extempore,  most  excellent  discourses, 
and  drew  quite  a  crowd  after  him.  Some  of 


70  I/IFK    OF    FRANKLIN. 

the  old-fashioned  Presbyterians,  however,  pro 
nounced  him  to  be  unsound  in  doctrine,  and 
began  to  oppose  him.  Franklin  admired  the 
preacher,  because  he  spent  more  time  in  teach 
ing  the  need  of  good  works,  than  in  idle  dis- 
pntings  about  the  decrees  of  God  ;  and  warm 
ly  espoused  his  cause.  A  controversy  sprang  up, 
and  the  divine  who  could  preach  so  eloquent 
ly,  proved  to  be  a  very  poor  writer.  Indeed, 
he  wielded -the  pen  so  awkwardly,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  apply  to  Franklin  to  prepare  his 
answers  for  him.  In  the  midst  of  all  this 
excitement,  it  was  discovered  that  the  elegant 
preacher  stole  his  sermons  from  printed  books, 
and  his  friends  at  once -abandoned  him  to  his 
fate.  Franklin  ceased  to  attend  upon  the 
Presbyterian  services,  from  this  time  forward, 
although  he  continued,  for  some  years,  his 
subscription  for  the  support  of  them. 

Circumstances  now  made  him  acquainted, 
to  some  extent,  with  the  peculiarities  and  prac 
tices  of  the  Church,  which  he  found  much 
more  to  his  taste.  His  wife's  family  were 
Episcopalians,  and  attendants  at  old  Christ 
Church.* 

*  "  As  I  went  up,  one  Sunday  mornin?,  to  worship  in  the 
venerable  Christ  Church,  around  which  cluster  so  many  inter- 


CHRIST    CHURCH,  PHILADKLPHIA.  71 

For  sixty  years  Franklin  himself  owned  a 
pew  there,  and  during  part  of  the  time  he  was 
a  member  of  the  vestry.  It  is  true  he  enjoyed 
a  poor  opportunity  for  going  to  church  very 
often  in  Philadelphia  for  the  last  thirty- thrcJe 

esting  associations  of  the  past,  I  felt  that  it  was  a  twofold  sanc 
tuary—a  sanctuary  of  religion  and  of  patriotism.  The  exterior 
is  the  same  that  it  was  when  the  later  colonial  governors  and 
officers  of  state,  when  Washington  and  Franklin,  when  Con 
gress  and  the  officers  of  the  Continental  army  went  there  to 
worship."—  Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,  vol.  ii.,  p.  248. 
The  first  place  of  worship  belonging  to  the  Church  of  Eng 
land,  was  built  in  Philadelphia,  in  1695,  of  which  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cftyton  was  minister.  In  1700,  the  Eev.  Evan  Evans  came 
over,  and  was  very  successful  in  gathering  a  congregation.  The 
first  edifice  used  by  the  congregation  of  Christ  Church  was 
built  under  his  direction.— See  Dorr's  History  of  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Evans  remained  in  the  colony  eighteen 
years,  having  Mr.  Thomas  as  his  assistant  in  Christ  Church,  his 
own  labors  being  extended  to  the  neighboring  settlements. 

William.  III.  allowed  £50  a  year  to  the  clergyman  at  Christ 
Church,  and  £30  to  the  schoolmaster,  and  Queen  Anne  pre 
sented  the  communion  plate  which  is  still  in  use  in  the  parish. 
After  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Evans,  Christ  Church  was  served 
by  Talbot  and  others,  until  the  arrival  from  England,  in  171l», 
of  John  Vicary,  who  came  out  by  appointment  of  Dr.  Robin 
son,  then  Bishop  of  London.  The  feeble  health  of  the  new 
minister  soon  ended  in  his  death,  and  then  came  the  Rev.  John 
Urmston,  once  a  missionary  in  North  Carolina,  with  whom  the 
vestry  of  Christ  Church  had  a  difficulty,  which  led  to  his  dis 
missal  at  the  close  of  a  year.  Mr.  Walter  (see  Lives  of  White 
and  Seabury)  was  employed  for  a  while  until  he  refused  to  ac 
knowledge  the  authority  of  King  George,  when  he  was  driven 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


years  of  his  life,  more  than  three-fourths  of 
that  time  being  spent  in  foreign  ]ands,  as  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  mention  in  another  place. 
When  he  returned  from  France  in  1785,  age 
and  infirmities  weighed  so  heavily  upon  him, 
that  he  was  for  the  most  part  confined  to  his 
house.  But  we  are  assured  by  one  of  his  de 
scendants,  that  even  during  this  distressing 
period,  although  a  sufferer  from  disease,  he 
used  to  be  carried  in  a  sedan  chair  to  Christ 
Church-  and  was  let  out  by  the  bearers  at  the 
door  of  his  pew.  Surely,  at  such  an  age,  with 
more  than  one  foot  already  in  the  grave,  no  man 
could  be  accused  of  selfish  and  unworthy  mo- 

from  the  British  territories.     The  Eev.  Archibald  Cummings 

was  appointed  minister  of  Christ  Church  in  1726,  bv  Bishop 

ibson  of  London,  and  held  his  office  for  above  fourteen  years 

The  only  drawback  to  the  general  acceptance  which  attended 

*  ministry,  was  a  misunderstanding  between  him  and  Puchard 

ere,  an  assistant  minister.    Peters  resigned,  but  remained  in 

nladelphia,  doing  good  service  for  the  Church,  until  after  the 

death  of  Dr.  Jenney,  the  successor  of  Cummings.     He  was 

chosen  by  the  vestry  to  the  rectorship  of  the  united  parishes 

Christ  Church  and  St.  Peters;  this  was  in  1762.     Dr  Peters 

contained  to  occupy  this  position  until  1775,  when  a«-e  and  in- 

irimties  led  him  to  resign.     He  was  succeeded  by  the  Eev 

Jacob  Duche,  famous  for  having  offered  the  first  prayer  in  Con- 

gross.     For  the  history  of  the  parish  from  this  point   we  refer 

our  readers  to  Dr.  Dorr's  History,  and  to  the  «  Life  of  Bishop 

White,"  in  this  series. 


STUDIES    FRENCH    AND    ITALIAN.  73 

tives  in  attempting  to  discharge  his  religious 
duties.  But  we  are  running  far  in  advance  of 
the  true  order  of  events,  and  must  hasten  to  re 
turn. 

Although  so  actively  engaged  in  business, 
Franklin  found  time,  after  his  twenty-seventh 
year,  to  make  himself  a  pretty  good  French 
and  Italian  scholar;  and  he  followed  this  up 
with  Spanish,  and  a  review  of  the  Latin,  of 
which  he  had  learned  the  rudiments  in  his 
boyhood. 

After  an  absence  of  ten  years  he  returned  to 
Boston  once  more,  to  visit  his  relations,  and, 
on  his  way  back  to  Philadelphia,  called  at 
Newport  to  see  his  brother  James.  All  former 
differences  were  forgotten,  and  their  meeting 
was  cordial  and  affectionate. 

James  was  in  feeble  health,  and  he  request 
ed  his  brother,  in  case  of  his  death,  which 
seemed  near  at  hand,  that  he  would  take  home 
his  son,  a  lad  of  ten  years,  and  bring  him  up 
as  a  printer.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and 
when  the  young  man  had  learned  the  trade, 
his  uncle  set  him  up  in  business,  thus  making 
ample  amends  to  James  for  having  run  off 
from  him  before  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship. 
In  1736,  Franklin  was  chosen  clerk  of  the 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


General  Assembly,  which  secured  for  him  the 
printing  of  the  votes,  laws,  paper-money,  and 
other  profitable  jobs  for  the  public.  The  fol 
lowing  year  Colonel  Spotswood,  late  governor 
of  Virginia,  and  then  postmaster-general,  being 
dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of  his  deputy  at 
Philadelphia,  offered  the  position  to  the  thriving 
printer.  Franklin  accepted  it,  and  although 
the  salary  was  small,  it  afforded  other  advan 
tages  which  well  repaid  him  for  the  additional 
labor.  The  following  advertisement  indicates 
nearly  the  time  when  he  assumed  the  duties 
of  postmaster  : 

"  October  27^,  1737.  —  Notice  is  hereby 
given,  that  the  post-office  of  Philadelphia  is 
now  kept  at  B.  Franklin's,  in  Market-street; 
and  that  Henry  Pratt  is  appointed  Eiding- 
master  for  all  the  stages  between  Philadelphia 
and  Newport  in  Virginia,  who  sets  out  about 
the  beginning  of  each  month,  and  returns  in 
twenty-four  days  ;  by  whom  gentlemen,  mer 
chants,  and  others,  may  have  their  letters  care 
fully  conveyed,  and  business  faithfully  trans 
acted,  he  having  given  good  security  for  the 
same  to  the  Honorable  Colonel  Spotswood, 
Postmaster-general  of  all  his  Majesty's  domin 
ions  in  America." 


TIIK    EIGHTH    COMMANDMENT.  75 

Six  years  afterwards  some  improvement  had 
taken  place  in  the  transmission  of  the  mail. 
In  an  advertisement  dated  April  14th,  1743, 
he  says,  "  After  this  week,  the  northern  post 
will  set  out  for  New  York  on  Thursdays  at 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  till  Christmas. 
The  southern  post  sets  out  next  Monday  at 
eight  o'clock  for  Annapolis,  and  continues  go 
ing  every  fortnight  during  the  summer  season." 
In  winter,  the  post  between  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  went  once  a  fortnight. 

The  following  characteristic  advertisement 
is  contained  in  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette  for 
June  23,  1737.  "  Taken  out  of  a  pew  in  the 
Church,  some  months  since,  a  Common  Prayer 
Book,  bound  in  red  gilt,  and  lettered  D.  F. 
(Deborah  Franklin)  on  each  cover.  The  per 
son  who  took  it  is  desired  to  open  it  and  read 
the  eighth  Commandment,  and  afterwards  re 
turn  it  into  the  same  pew  again ;  upon  which 
no  further  notice  will  be  taken." 


CHAPTER    SEVENTH. 

Whitefield  visits  Philadelphia— The  short-sighted  policy  of  that 
age  of  spiritual  lethargy— Effects  of  Whitefield's  eloquence— 
His  orphan  house— Franklin's  intercourse  with  him—"  Thee 
seems  to  be  out  of  thy  right  senses"— Preaching  to  vast  mul 
titudes—Testing  the  powers  of  Whitefield's  voice— Advan 
tage  enjoyed  by  itinerant  preachers  —  Franklin  publishes 
Whitefield's  works— Their  last  meeting— Interesting  letter- 
Motives  with  which  benefits  should  be  conferred— Faith  and 
good  works— Example  of  our  blessed  Lord. 

IJST  1739,  the  Eev.  George  Whitefield,  that 
eccentric  Episcopal  clergyman  whose  name 
is  so  familiar  to  every  one,  arrived  in  Phila 
delphia  from  Ireland.  Had  he  lived  in  our 
time,  the  Church  would  gladly  have  availed 
herself  of  his  burning  eloquence  and  untiring 
zeal,  to  carry  the  standard  of  the  Cross  through 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land ;  but,  un 
fortunately,  it  was  a  season  of  inactivity  and 
spiritual  lethargy,  and  the  devoted  man  was 
treated  with  neglect  by  those  who  should  have 
welcomed  and  encouraged  him  in  his  work. 

Whitefield  was  shut  out  from  the  churches, 
and  obliged  to  preach  under  the  open  canopy 
of  heaven.  This  very  opposition,  however, 


GEORGE    WHITEFIKLD.  77 

only  increased  his  popularity,  and  thousands 
nocked  to  hear  the  words  of  salvation  from 
his  lips.  Franklin  became  one  of  his  warm 
est  admirers,  and  often  entertained  him  as  a 
guest. 

The  effect  of  Whitefield's  preaching  was 
wonderful,  and  religion  seemed  to  become  the 
one  absorbing  subject  with  the  people.  Dur 
ing  his  sojourn  in  Philadelphia,  a  person  could 
hardly  walk  along  the  streets,  in  an  evening, 
without  hearing  the  sound  of  sacred  melody 
bursting  forth  from  houses  at  every  step. 

The  establishment  of  an  Orphan  House  in 
Georgia,  was  at  this  time  the  preacher's  favor 
ite  project.  Franklin  differed  with  him  as  to 
the  best  mode  of  erecting  the  necessary  build 
ings,  and,  in  consequence  of  his  advice  being 
neglected,  he  declined  contributing  towards 
the  object.  The  honest  printer  thus  describes 
the  way  in  which  his  determination  was 
changed : 

"  I  happened  soon  after,  to  attend  one  of 
his  sermons,  in  the  course  of  which  I  perceived 
he  intended  to  finish  with  a  collection,  and  I 
silently  resolved  he  should  get  nothing  from 
me.  I  had  in  my  pocket  a  handful  of  copper 
money,  three  or  four  silver  dollars,  and  five 


78  LTFK    OF    FRANK!. IX. 

pistoles  in  gold.  As  lie  proceeded,  I  began  to 
soften,  and  concluded  to  give  the  copper.  An 
other  stroke  of  his  oratory  made  me  ashamed 
of  that,  and  determined  me  to  give  the  silver ; 
and  he  finished  so  admirably,  that  I  emptied 
my  pocket  wholly  into  the  collector's  dish, 
gold  and  all.  At  this  sermon  there  was  also 
one  of  our  club,  who,  being  of  my  sentiments 
respecting  the  building  in  Georgia,  and  sus 
pecting  a  collection  might  be  intended,  had  by 
precaution  emptied  his  pockets  before  he  came 
from  home.  Towards  the  conclusion  of  the 
discourse,  however,  he  felt  a  strong  inclination 
to  give,  and  applied  to  a  neighbor  who  stood 
near  him,  to  lend  him  some  money  for  the 
purpose.  The  request  was  fortunately  made 
to  perhaps  the  only  man  in  the  company  who 
had  the  firmness  not  to  be  affected  by  the 
preacher.  His  answer  was,  '  At  any  other 
time,  friend  Hopkinson,  I  would  lend  to  thee 
freely;  but  not  now,  for  thee  seems  to  be  out 
of  thy  right  senses.' ' 

We  must  give  one  more  passage  from  Frank 
lin's  autobiography,  in  regard  to  Whitefield's 
eloquence : 

"  He  had  a  loud  and  clear  voice,  and  articu 
lated  his  words  so  perfectly,  that  he  might  be 


POVVKR    OF    WHITEFIELDS    VOICK.  <'•> 

heard  and  understood  at  a  great  distance  ;  es 
pecially  as  his  auditors  observed  the  most  per 
fect  silence.  He  preached  one  evening  from 
the  top  of  the  court-house  steps,  which  are  in 
the  middle  of  Market- street,  and  on  the  west 
side  of  Second-street,  which  crosses  it  at  right 
angles.  Both  streets  were  filled  with  his  hear 
ers  to  a  considerable  distance.  Being  among 
the  hindmost  in  Market- street,  I  had  the  curi 
osity  to  learn  how  far  he  could  be  heard,  by 
retiring  backwards  down  the  street  towards 
the  river,  and  I  found  his  voice  distinct  till  I 
came  near  Front-street,  when  some  noise  in 
that  street  obscured  it.  Imagining  then  a  sem 
icircle,  of  which  my  distance  should  be  the 
radius,  and  that  it  was  filled  with  auditors,  to 
each  of  whom  I  allowed  two  square  feet,  I 
computed  that  he  might  well  be  heard  by 
more  than  thirty  thousand.  This  reconciled 
me  to  the  newspaper  accounts  of  his  having 
preached  to  twenty-five  thousand  people  in 
the  fields,  and  to  the  history  of  generals  ha 
ranguing  whole  armies,  of  which  I  had  some 
times  doubted. 

"  By  hearing  him  often,  I  came  to  distin 
guish  easily  between  sermons  newly  composed, 
and  those  which  he  had  often  preached  in  the 


80  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

course  of  his  travels.  His  delivery  of  the  lat 
ter  was  so  improved  by  frequent  repetition, 
that  every  accent,  every  emphasis,  every  mod 
ulation  of  voice,  was  so  perfectly  well  turned 
and  well  placed,  that,  without  being  interested 
in  the  subject,  one  could  not  help  being  pleased 
with  the  discourse ;  a  pleasure  of  much  the 
same  kind  with  that  received  from  an  excellent 
piece  of  music.  This  is  an  advantage  itinerant 
preachers  have  over  those  who  are  stationary. 
as  the  latter  cannot  well  improve  their  delivery 
of  a  sermon  by  so  many  rehearsals." 

Franklin  was  the  first  publisher  of  White- 
field's  writings,  which  were  issued  in  May, 
1740.  They  always  remained  devoted  friends. 
The  last  time  they  met  was  in  London,  in  1766. 
Whitefield  died  at  Newburyport,  Massachu 
setts,  four  years  afterwards.  His  friend  out 
lived  him  twenty  years.  We  shall  be  par 
doned  for  inserting  an  interesting  letter  from 
the  philosopher  to  the  eloquent  divine : 

PHILADELPHIA,  June  6,"  1753. 

SIR  : — I  received  your  kind  letter  of  the  2d 

instant,  and  am  glad  to  hear  that  you  increase 

in  strength  ;  I  hope  you  will  continue  mending, 

till  you  recover  your  former  health  and  firm- 


LETTER    TO    WHITEFIELD.  81 

ness.  Let  me  know  whether  you  still  use  the 
cold  bath,  and  what  effect  it  has. 

As  to  the  kindness  you  mention,  I  wish  it 
could  have  been  of  more  service  to  you.  But 
if  it  had,  the  only  thanks  I  should  desire  is, 
that  you  would  always  be  equally  ready  to 
serve  any  other  person  that  may  need  your 
assistance,  and  so  let  good  offices  go  round ; 
for  mankind  are  all  of  a  family. 

For  my  own  part,  when  I  am  employed  in 
serving  others,  I  do  not  look  upon  myself  as 
conferring  favors,  but  as  paying  debts.  In  my 
travels,  and  since  iny  settlement,  I  have  re 
ceived  much  kindness  from  men,  to  whom  I 
shall  never  have  any  opportunity  of  making 
the  least  direct  return  ;  and  numberless  mer 
cies  from  God,  who  is  infinitely  above  being 
benefited  by  our  services.  Those  kindnesses 
from  men,  I  can  therefore  only  return  on  their 
fellow-men ;  and  I  can  only  show  my  gratitude 
for  these  mercies  from  God,  by  a  readiness  to 
help  his  other  children  and  my  brethren.  For 
I  do  not  think  that  thanks  and  compliments, 
though  repeated  weekly,  can  discharge  our  real 
obligations  to  each  other,  and  much  less  those 
to  our  Creator.  You  will  see  in  this  my  notion 
of  good  works,  that  I  am  far  from  expecting  to 


82 


LIFE    OF   FEANKLIN. 


merit  heaven  by  them.  By  heaven  we  under 
stand  a  state  of  happiness,  infinite  in  degree, 
and  eternal  in  duration.  I  can  do  nothing  to 
deserve  such  rewards.  He  that,  for  giving  a 
draught  of  water  to  a  thirsty  person,  should 
expect  to  be  paid  with  a  good  plantation, 
would  be  modest  in  his  demands,  compared 
with  those  who  think  they  deserve  heaven  for 
the  little  good  they  do  on  earth.  Even  the 
mixed,  imperfect  pleasures  we  enjoy  in  this 
world,  are  rather  from  God's  goodness  than 
dnr  merit :  how  much  more  such  happiness  of 
heaven  !  For  my  part,  I  have  not  the  vanity 
to  think  I  deserve  it,  the  folly  to  expect  it,  nor 
the  ambition  to  desire  it ;  but  content  myself 
in  submitting  to  the  will  and  disposal  of  that 
God  who  made  me,  who  has  hitherto  preserved 
and  blessed  me,  and  in  whose  fatherly  good 
ness  I  may  well  confide,  that  he  will  never 
make  me  miserable ;  and  that  even  the  afflic 
tions  I  may  at  any  time  suffer  shall  tend  to 
my  benefit. 

The  faith  you  mention  has  certainly  its  use 
in  the  world.  I  do  not  desire  to  see  it  dimin 
ished,  nor  would  I  endeavor  to  lessen  it  in  any 
man.  But  I  wish  it  were  more  productive  of 
good  works  than  I  have  generally  seen  it ;  I 


DOKRS    OF    THE    WORD.  83 

mean  real  good  works ;  works  of  kindness, 
charity,  mercy,  and  public  spirit,  not  holiday- 
keeping,  sermon-reading  or  hearing ;  perform 
ing  church  ceremonies,  or  making  long  prayers, 
filled  with  flatteries  and  compliments,  despised 
even  by  wise  men,  and  much  less  capable  of 
pleasing  the  Deity.  The  worship  of  God  is  a 
duty  ;  the  hearing  and  reading  of  sermons  may 
be  useful  ;  but  if  men  rest  in  hearing  and  pray 
ing,  as  too  many  do,  it  is  as  if  a  tree  should 
value  itself  on  being  watered  and  putting  forth 
leaves,  though  it  never  produced  any  fruit. 

Your  great  Master  thought  much  less  of 
these  outward  appearances  and  professions 
than  many  of  his  modern  disciples.  He  pre 
ferred  the  doers  of  the  word  to  the  mere  hearers  ; 
the  son  that  seemingly  refused  to  obey  his 
father,  and  yet  performed  his  commands ;  to 
him  that  professed  his  readiness,  but  neglected 
the  Avork ;  the  heretical  but  charitable  Sa 
maritan,  to  the  uncharitable  though  orthodox 
priest  and  sanctified  Levite ;  and  those  who 
gave  food  to  the  hungry,  drink  to  the  thirsty, 
raiment  to  the  naked,  entertainment  to  the 
stranger,  and  relief  to  the  sick,  though  they 
never  heard  of  his  name,  he  declares  shall  in 
the  last  day  be  accepted ;  when  those  who  cry 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


Lord  !  Lord  !  who  value  themselves  upon  their 
faith,  though  great  enough  to  perform  miracles, 
but  have  neglected  good  works,  shall  be  re 
jected.  He  professed  that  lie  came  not  to  call 
the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance  ;  which 
implied  his  modest  opinion,  that  there  were 
some  in  his  time  so  good,  that  they  need  not 
hear  even  him  for  improvement  ;  but  now-a- 
days  we  have  scarce  a  little  parson,  that  does 
not  think  it  the  duty  of  every  man  within  his 
reach,  to  sit  under  his  petty  ministrations  ;  and 
that  whoever  omits  them  offends  God. 

I  wish  to  such  more  humility,  and  to  you 
health  and  happiness,  being  your  friend  and 
servant, 

B.  FEANKLIN. 


CHAPTEK  EIGHTH. 

Prosperity — Franklin's  efforts  for  the  public  good — Militia  sys 
tem— Education— Public  fast-day  — The  Franklin  stove  — 
Philosophical  studies  begun— Dragged  into  the  public  service 
again— Establishment  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital— Improv 
ing  the  streets  of  Philadelphia— Changes  in  the  general  post- 
office  department— Honors  conferred— Curious  experiments 
in  electricity — Phenomena  of  thunder-gusts — Franklin's  dis 
coveries  carry  his  name  to  other  lands. 

WE  have  now  followed  Franklin's  fortunes 
to  his  fortieth  year.  Business  had  gone 
on  prosperously  with  him,  and  he  had  experi 
enced  the  truth  of  the  observation,  that  after 
getting  the  first  hundred  pounds,  it  is  more 
easy  to  obtain  the  second.  Money  itself  being 
of  a  prolific  nature. 

Upon  the  whole,  he  was  well  satisfied  that 
he  had  established  himself  in  Pennsylvania, 
but  there  were  some  things  in  the  province 
which  he  regretted,  and  sought  to  remedy. 

These  were  the  neglect  of  education,  and 
the  want  of  any  militia  system, — or  other  ade 
quate  means  of  defence. 

There  must  always  be  a  leading  spirit  to  in- 


86  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

augurate  reformations  and  improvements, — 
and  such  was  the  position  which  Franklin 
occupied.  As  Great  Britain  and  Spain  were 
then  at  war,  and  the  latter  had  secured  the  aid 
of  France,  the  English  colonies  in  North 
America  were  in  an  exposed  condition. 

Governor  Thomas  had  done  his  best  to  per 
suade  the  Quaker  Assembly  to  pass  a  militia 
law  for  the  better  protection  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  no  steps  were  taken  in  the  matter.  Frank 
lin  now  wrote  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Plain 
Truth,"  setting  forth  the  importance  of  the 
measures,  and  promising  in  a  few  days  to 
propose  an  instrument  of  association,  for  the 
signatures  of  those  who  were  willing  to  unite 
for  the  common  defence.  A  large  public  meet 
ing  was  held,  which  Franklin  addressed*  with 
so  much  ability  and  earnestness,  that  twelve 
hundred  names  were  obtained  before  its  ad 
journment  ;  and  other  copies  of  the  document 
being  scattered  through  the  country,  the  num- 


*  Mr.  Jefferson  said,  that  he  had  been  in  deliberative  bodies 
with  General  Washington  and  Dr.  Franklin,  and  that  he  had 
never  heard  either  of  them  make  a  speech  more  than  fifteen 
minutes  long,  and  then  always  directly  to  the  point.  He  adds, 
that  there  were  no  members  who  possessed  more  influence,  or 
who  were  listened  to  with  more  profound  attention. 


ELECTED   COLONEL.  87 

her  soon  amounted  to  more  than  ten  thousand. 
All  these  furnished  themselves  with  arms,  or 
ganized  companies,  elected  officers,  and  met 
every  week  to  be  instructed  in  military  disci 
pline.  The  women  presented  the  regiments 
with  handsome  silk  colors,  the  devices  and 
mottoes  for  which  our  indefatigable  printer 
supplied.  The  Philadelphia  companies  chose 
him  for  their  colonel,  but  he  modestly  declined, 
and  recommended  Mr.  Lawrence  for  the  sta 
tion,  who  was  appointed  accordingly. 

Franklin  next  proposed  that  a  battery 
should  be  erected  below  the  town,  which  was 
speedily  done.  His  activity  in  these  opera 
tions  so  gratified  the  governor  and  council, 
that  they  consulted  with  him  on  all  important 
occasions.  He  recommended  that  a  public 
fast-day  should  be  appointed,  and  the  blessing 
of  Heaven  devoutly  invoked.  This  was  some 
thing  unheard  of  before  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  proposal  was  immediately  adopted,  Frank 
lin  drawing  up  the  proclamation,  which  was 
published  in  English  and  German,  and  circu 
lated  throughout  the  province. 

It  was  supposed  by  some  that  his  activity  in 
these  affairs  would  give  such  offence  to  the 
peace-loving  Quakers,  that  they  might  defeat 


88 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIX. 


his  election  to  the  clerkship  of  the  General 
Assembly,  in  which  body  they  formed  a  large 
majority.  But  these  apprehensions  proved  to 
be  ill-founded,  and  it  appeared  that  while  the 
Friends  were  opposed  from  principle  to  offen 
sive  war,  they  were  decidedly  in  favor  of  the 
defensive. 

To  show  the  versatility  of  Franklin's  mind, 
we  should  mention  that  in  1741  he  establish 
ed  the  General  Magazine  and  Historical 
Chronicle,  and  in  the  following  year  invented 
the  stove  which  still  bears  his  name.*  For 
the  latter  he  refused  a  patent,  on  the  principle 
that  such  discoveries  ought  to  be  made  subser 
vient  to  the  common  good  of  mankind.  Peace 
having  been  concluded,  his  thoughts  were 
turned  again  to  the  ca.tise  of  education,  and  by 
patient  effort  he  finally  succeeded  in  the  es 
tablishment  of  an  academy,  which  grew,  in 
course  of  time,  into  the  University  of  Pennsyl 


vania. 


In  1748,  he  threw  off  many  of  the  cares  and 
vexations  of  business,  by  taking  into  partner 
ship  Mr.  David  Hall,  an  industrious  and  hon- 


*  A  description  of  this  wood-saving  invention  is  given  in 
the  Encyclopaedia  Amcrieuiui,  vol.  v.,  p.  126. 


THE    PENNSYLVANIA    HOSPITAL.  89 

est  man,  who  had  been  working  for  him  sever 
al  years,  thus  securing  time,  as  he  fondly 
hoped,  for  the  prosecution  of  philosophical 
studies.  With  this  view  he  had  purchased 
quite  an  extensive  apparatus,  and  began  a 
series  of  interesting  experiments. 

He  had,  however,  shown  himself  too  useful 
to  the  public  to  be  allowed  to  continue  long 
in  retirement,  and  he  was  soon  appointed  jus 
tice  of  the  peace,  and  then  alderman,  and 
next  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly. 
His  election  to  the  last  post  of  honor  was  con 
tinued  every  year  for  ten  years,  without  his 
ever  soliciting  a  vote,  or  expressing  any  desire 
for  the  office. 

On  taking  his  seat  in  the  House,  he  was 
soon  appointed  clerk. 

In  1750,  when  a  treaty  was  to  be  held  with 
the  Indians  at  Carlisle,  Franklin  and  Mr. 
Norris  were  appointed  commissioners  to  go 
and  attend  to  the  business.  Indeed,  it  is  cu 
rious  to  observe  what  a  wonderful  influence 
the  successful  printer  had  secured,  and  how  all 
parties  looked  to  him  for  assistance  or  advice. 
The  following  year,  when  Dr.  Thomas  Bond, 
a  benevolent  and  excellent  man,  conceived  the 
idea  of  establishing  a  hospital  in  Philadelphia 

8* 


90  LIFK    OF    FRANKLIN. 

for  the  benefit  of  poor  sick  persons,  the  propo 
sal  was  so  much  of  a  novelty  in  America,  that 
at  first  lie  met  with  little  encouragement.  On 
all  sides,  he  was  asked  by  those  whom  lie 
solicited  to  subscribe,  "Have  you  consulted 
Franklin  on  this  business?  And  what  does 
he  think  of  it  ?" 

He  accordingly  laid  his  plans  before  Frank 
lin,  who  warmly  approved  of  them  ;  subscribed 
liberally  himself;  wrote  several  newspaper  ar 
ticles  on  the  subject;  induced  the  Assembly  to 
aid  the  undertaking  by  an  appropriation  of 
money;  and  did  not  cease  to  exert  himself 
until  the  institution  was  firmly  established. 
Years  afterwards,  while  sojourning  in  Europe, 
if  he  gleaned  any  useful  hints,  he  was  sure  to 
communicate  them  to  the  managers  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Hospital. 

Dr.  Franklin  thus  describes  his  successful 
efforts  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  streets 
of  Philadelphia :  "  Our  city,  though  laid  out 
with  a  beautiful  regularity,  the  streets  large, 
straight,  and  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles, 
had  the  disgrace  of  suffering  those  streets  to 
remain  long  unpaved,  and  in  wet  weather  the 
wheels  of  heavy  carriages  ploughed  them  into 
a  quagmire,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to  cross 


EFFORTS  FOE  CLKAN  STREETS.        91 

them  ;  and  in  dry  weather  the  dust  was  offen 
sive.  I  had  lived  near  what  was  called  the 
Jersey  Market,  and  saw  with  pain  the  inhabit 
ants  wading  in  mud,  while  purchasing  their 
provisions.  A  strip  of  ground  down  the  mid 
dle  of  that  market  was  at  length  paved  with 
brick,  so  that,  being  once  in  the  market,  they 
had  firm  footing ;  but  were  often  over  shoes  in 
dirt  to  get  there.  By  talking  and  writing  on 
the  subject,  I  was  at  length  instrumental  in 
getting  the  street  paved  with  stone  between 
the  market  and  the  brick  foot-pavement,  that 
was  on  the  side  next  to  the  houses.  This,  for 
some  time,  gave  an  easy  access  to  the  market 
dry-shod ;  but,  the  rest  of  the  street  not  being 
paved,  whenever  a  carriage  came  out  of  the 
mud  upon  this  pavement,  it  shook  off  and  left 
its  dirt  upon  it,  and  it  was  soon  covered  with 
mire,  which  was  not  removed,  the  city  as  yet 
having  no  scavengers. 

"After  some  inquiry,  I  found  a  poor,  indus 
trious  man,  who  was  willing  to  undertake  keep 
ing  the  pavement  clean,  by  sweeping  it  twice  a 
week,  carrying  off  the  dirt  from  before  all  the 
neighbors'  doors,  for  the  sum  of  sixpence  per 
month,  to  be  paid  by  each  house.  I  then  wrote 
and  printed  a  paper,  setting  forth  the  ad  van- 


92  LIFE    OF    FRANKLTX. 

tages  to  the  neighborhood  that  might  be  ob 
tained  from  this  small  expense ;  the  greater 
ease  in  keeping  our  houses  clean,  so  much  dirt 
not  being  brought  in  by  people's  feet ;  the  ben 
efit  to  the  shops  by  more  custom,  as  buyers 
could  more  easily  get  at  them ;  and  by  not 
having  in  windy  weather  the  dust  blown  in 
upon  their  goods,  &c.,  &c.  I  sent  one  of  these 
papers  to  each  house,  and  in  a  day  or  two  went 
round  to  see  who  would  subscribe  an  agreement 
to  pay  these  sixpences ;  it  was  unanimously 
signed,  and  for  a  time  well  executed.  All  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city  were  delighted  with  the 
cleanliness  of  the  pavement  that  surrounded 
the  market,  it  being  a  convenience  to  all,  and 
this  raised  a  general  desire  to  have  all  the 
streets  paved  ;  and  made  the  people  more  will 
ing  to  submit  to  a  tax  for  that  purpose." 

After  this,  Franklin  drew  up  a  bill  for  paving 
the  city,  and  brought  it  into  the  General  As 
sembly.  This  was  passed,  with  some  modifi 
cation,  during  his  absence  from  the  countrv,  in 
1757. 

Upon  the  death  of  the  postmaster-general  of 
America,  in  1753,  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Wil 
liam  Hunter  were  appointed  by  the  British  gov 
ernment  to  succeed  him  in  the  important  duties 


MADE  POSTMAbTEK-GKNERAL.  93 

of  this  office.  Hitherto,  the  American  post-office 
had  never  paid  any  thing  to  that  of  the  mother 
country.  The  new  agents  were  to  have  six 
hundred  pounds  a  year  between  them,  if  that 
sum  could  be  made  out  of  the  office.  In  order 
to  do  this,  some  changes  were  needed,  and  great 
skill  in  the  management  of  its  affairs  was  in 
dispensable  to  insure  its  success ;  but  like  every 
thing  else  which  Franklin  undertook,  the  postal 
arrangement  proved  to  be  quite  satisfactory. 
The  business  of  the  office  obliged  him  to  make 
a  journey  to  lS"ew  England,  during  the  year 
1753,  when  Cambridge  and  Yale  colleges,  both 
of  their  own  accord,  conferred  upon  him  the 
Honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  This  was 
done  in  consideration  of  his  improvements  and 
discoveries  in  the  electric  branch  of  natural 
philosophy.  These  discoveries  are  entitled  to 
a  more  particular  notice. 

Being  at  Boston  in  1746,  he  met  with  Dr. 
Spence,  then  lately  arrived  from  Scotland, 
whom  he  saw  perform  some  curious  experi 
ments.  This  stimulated  him  to  attempt  others 
for  himself,  and  he  communicated  the  result  of 
his  observations  to  Mr.  Collinsoii,  of  London,  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Society.  "In  the  year 
1749,  he  first  suggested  his  idea  of  explaining 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

the  phenomena  of  thunder-gusts,  and  of  the 
aurora  borealis,  upon  electrical  principles.  lie 
points  out  many  particulars  in  which  lightning 
and  electricity  agree;  and  he  adduces  many 
facts,  and  reasonings  from  facts,  in  support  of 
his  positions. 

"  In  the  same  year  he  conceived  the  astonish 
ingly  bold  and  grand  idea  of  ascertaining  the 
truth  of  his  doctrine  by  actually  drawing  down 
the  lightning,  by  means  of  sharp-pointed  iron 
rods,  raised  into  the  region  of  the  clouds.  Even 
in  this  uncertain  state,  his  passion  to  he  useful 
to  mankind  displayed  itself  in  a  powerful  man 
ner.  Admitting  the  identity  of  electricity  and 
lightning,  and  knowing  the  power  of  points  in 
repelling  bodies  charged  with  electricity,  and 
in  conducting  their  fire  silently  and  impercept 
ibly,  he  suggested  the  idea  of  securing  houses, 
ships,  &c.,  from  being  damaged  by  lightning, 
by  erecting  pointed  rods,  that  should  rise  some 
feet  above  the  most  elevated  part,  and  descend 
some  feet  into  the  ground  or  the  water.  The 
effect  of  these,  he  concluded,  would  be  either 
to  prevent  a  stroke  by  repelling  the  cloud  be 
yond  the  striking  distance,  or  by  drawing  off 
the  electrical  fire  which  it  contained  :  or  if  they 
could  not  effect  this,  they  would  at  least  con- 


KLKLTKICAL    KXI'KRIMKNTS.  95 

duct  the  electric  matter  to  the  earth,  without 
any  injury  to  the  building.  It  was  not  until 
the  summer  of  1752,  that  he  was  enabled  to 
complete  his  grand  and  unparalleled  discovery 
by  experiment.  The  plan  which  he  had  origi 
nally  proposed,  was  to  erect,  on  some  high 
tower  or  other  elevated  place,  a  sentry-box, 
from  which  should  rise  a  pointed  iron  rod, 
insulated  by  being  fixed  in  a  cake  of  resin. 
Electrified  clouds  passing  over  this,  would,  he 
conceived,  impart  to  it  a  portion  of  their 
electricity,  which  would  be  rendered  evident 
to  the  senses  by  sparks  being  emitted,  when  a 
key,  the  knuckle,  or  other  conductor  was  pre 
sented  to  it. 

"  Philadelphia  at  this  time  afforded  no  op 
portunity  of  trying  an  experiment  of  this  kind. 
While  Franklin  was  waiting  for  the  erection 
of  a  spire,  it  occurred  to  him  that  he  might 
have  more  ready  access  to  the  region  of  clouds 
by  means  of  a  common  kite.  He  prepared  one 
by  fastening  two  cross  sticks  to  a  silk  handker 
chief,  which  would  not  suffer  so  much  from  the 
rain  as  paper.  To  the  upright  stick  was  affixed 
an  iron  point.  The  string  was,  as  usual,  of 
hemp,  except  the  lower  end,  which  was  silk. 
Where  the  hempen  string  terminated,  a  key 


00  LTKK    OF    FUANKLIN. 

was  fastened.  With  this  apparatus,  on  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  thunder-gust  approaching,  he 
went  out  into  the  commons,  accompanied  by 
his  son,' to  whom  alone  he  communicated  his 
intentions,  well  knowing  the  ridicule  which, 
too  generally  for  the  interest  of  science,  awaits 
unsuccessful  experiments  in  philosophy.  He 
placed  himself  under  a  shed,  to  avoid  the  rain ; 
his  kite  was  raised,  a  thunder-cloud  passed  over 
it,  no  sign  of  electricity  appeared.  He  almost 
despaired  of  success,  when  suddenly  he  observed 
the  loose  fibres  of  his  string;  to  move  towards 

^ 

an  erect  position.  He  now  presented  his 
knuckle  to  the  key,  and  received  a  strong  spark. 
How  exquisite  must  his  sensations  have  been 
at  this  moment !  On  this  experiment  depended 
the  fate  of  his. theory.  If  he  succeeded,  his 
name  would  rank  hi^li  amon^  those  who  had 

c>  ^ 

improved  science ;  if  he  failed,  he  must  inev 
itably  be  subjected  to  the  derision  of  mankind, 
or,  what  is  worse,  their  pity,  as  a  well-mean 
ing  man,  but  a  weak,  silly  projector. 

"The  anxiety,  with  which  he  looked  for  the 
result  of  his  experiment,  may  be  easily  con 
ceived.  Doubts  and  despair  had  begun  to 
prevail,  when  the  fact  was  ascertained,  in  so 
clear  a  manner,  that  even  the  most  incredulous 


THE    CELEBRATED    BUFFON.  97 

could  no  longer  withhold  their  assent.  Re- 
peated  sparks  were  drawn  from  the  key,  a 
vial  was  charged,  a  shock  given,  and  all  the 
experiments  made  which  are  usually  perform 
ed  with  electricity.  About  a  month  before 
this  period,  some  ingenious  Frenchman  had 
completed  the  discovery  in  the  manner  origi 
nally  proposed  by  Dr.  Franklin. 

"  The  letters  which  he  sent  to  Mr.  Collinson, 
it  is  said,  were  refused  a  place  in  the  Transac 
tions  of  the  Royal  Society  of  London.  How 
ever  this  may  be.  Collinson  published  them  in 
a  separate  volume,  under  the  title  of  '  New 
Experiments  and  Observations  on  Electricity, 
made  at  Philadelphia,  in  America.'  They 
were  read  with  avidity,  and  soon  translated 
into  different  languages.  A  very  incorrect 
French  translation  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
celebrated  Buifon,  who,  notwithstanding  the 
disadvantages  under  which  the  work  labored, 
was  much  pleased  with  it,  and  repeated  the 
experiments  with  success.  He  prevailed  on 
his  friend,  M.  Dalibard,  to  give  his  country 
men  a  more  correct  translation  of  the  works 
of  the  American  electrician.  This  contributed 
much  towards  spreading  a  knowledge  of 
Franklin's  principles  in  France. 


98  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

"The  king,  Louis  the  Fifteenth,  hearing  of 
these  experiments,  expressed  a  wish  to  be  a 
spectator  of  them.  A  course  of  experiments 
was  given  at  the  seat  of  the  Due  d'Ayen,  at 
St.  Germain,  by  M.  de  Lor.  The  applauses 
which  the  king, bestowed  upon  Franklin,  ex 
cited  in  Buffon,  Dalibard,  and  De  Lor,  an 
earnest  desire  of  ascertaining  the  truth  of  his 
theory  of  thunder-gusts.  Buffon  erected  his 
apparatus  on  the  tower  of  Montbur,  M.  Dali 
bard  at  Marly-la- ville,  and  De  Lor  at  his  house 
in  the  Estrapade  at  Paris,  some  of  the  highest 
ground  in  that  capital.  Dalibard's  machine 
first  showed  signs  of  electricity.  On  the  10th 
of  May,  1752,  a  thunder-cloud  passed  over  it 
in  the  absence  of  M.  Dalibard,  and  a  number 
of  sparks  were  drawn  from  it  by  Coiffier,  a 
joiner,  with  whom  Dalibard  had  left  directions 
how  to  proceed,  and  by  M.  Ranlet,  the  prior 
of  Marly-la- ville.  An  account  of  this  experi 
ment  was  given  to  the  Royal  Academy  of 
Sciences,  by  M.  Dalibard,  in  a  memoir  dated 
May  13,  1752. 

"  On  the  18th  of  May,  M.  de  Lor  proved 
equally  successful  with  the  apparatus  erected 
at  his  own  house.  These  philosophers  soon  ex 
cited  those  of  other  parts  of  Europe  to  repeat 


JEALOUSY    AND    DETRACTION.  99 

the  experiment ;  among  whom,  none  signal 
ized  themselves  more  than  Father  Beccaria  of 
Turin,  to  whose  observations,  science  is  much 
indebted.  Even  the  cold  regions  of  Russia 
were  penetrated  by  the  ardor  for  discovery. 
Professor  Richmann  bade  fair  to  add  much  to 
the  stock  of  knowledge  on  this  subject,  when 
an  unfortunate  flash  from  his  conductor  put  a 
period  to  his  existence.  The  friends  of  science 
will  long  remember  with  regret,  the  amiable 
martyr  to  electricity. 

'"'  By  these  experiments,  Franklin's  theory 
was  established  in  the  most  convincing  man 
ner.  "When  the  truth  of  it  could  no  longer  be 
doubted,  envy  and  vanity  endeavored  to  de 
tract  from  its  merit.  That  an  American,  an 
inhabitant  of  the  obscure  city  of  Philadelphia, 
the  name  of  which  was  hardly  known,  should 
be  able  to  make  discoveries  and  to  frame 
theories  which  had  escaped  the  notice  of  the 
enlightened  philosophers  of  Europe,  was  too 
mortifying  to  be  admitted.  He  must  certain 
ly  have  taken  the  idea  from  some  one  else. 
An  American,  a  being  of  an  inferior  order, 
make  discoveries  ?  Impossible  !  It  was  said 
that  the  Abbe  Kollet,  1748,  had  suggested  the 
idea  of  the  similarity  of  lightning  and  electrici- 


100  LIFE   OF    FRANKLIN. 

ty  in  his  'Lemons  de  Physique.'  It  is  true 
that  the  abbe  mentions  the  idea ;  but  lie 
throws  it  out  as  a  bare  conjecture,  and  pro 
poses  no  mode  of  ascertaining  the  truth  of  it. 
He  himself  acknowledges  that  Franklin  first 
entertained  the  bold  thought  of  bringing  light 
ning  from  the  heavens  by  means  of  pointed 
rods  fixed  in  the  air. 

"  The  similarity  of  lightning  and  electricity 
is  so  strong,  that  we  need  not  be  surprised  at 
notice  being  taken  of  it,  as  soon  as  electrical 
phenomena  became  familiar.  We  find  it  men 
tioned  by  Dr.  Wall 'and  Mr.  Grey,  while  the 
science  was  in  its  infancy.  But  the  honor  of 
forming  a  regular  theory  of  thunder-gusts,  of 
suggesting  a  mode  of  determining  the  truth  of 
it  by  experiments,  and  of  putting  these  exper 
iments  in  practice,  and  thus  establishing  the 
theory  upon  a  firm  and  solid  basis,  is  incon- 
testably  due  to  Franklin.  Dalibard,  who 
made  the  first  experiments  in  France,  says 
that  he  only  followed  the  track  which  Frank 
lin  had  pointed  out."* 


*  Franklin's   Works,  vol.  v.,  p.  174,  etc.,  from   an  account 
drawn  up  by  Dr.  Stube. 


CHAPTER  NINTH. 

A  general  Congress  at  Albany— Franklin's  plan  for  union— The 
British  government  disapprove  of  it— General  Braddock  sent 
over — His  embarrassments  relieved  by  Franklin's  energy — 
The  unsuccessful  expedition — Braddoek's  poor  opinion  of  the 
American  troops — Franklin's  militia  bill— Proceeds  to  the 
frontier  to  erect  fortifications — The  way  to  secure  a  prompt 
attendance  at  prayers — Chosen  colonel — Difficulties  with  the 
Proprietaries— Franklin  sent  to  England  as  the  agent  of  the 
Province — His  reception  there — Made  doctor  of  laws — Two 
anonymous  publications,  which  produced  their  intended  ef 
fect — Visit  to  Holland  and  Flanders — The  armonica — Return 
to  America. 

IN"  1754,  war  with  France  being  again  appre 
hended,  it  was  determined  to  call  a  general 
Congress  at  Albany,  to  arrange  a  common 
plan  of  defence ;  Franklin  being  appointed 
one  of  the  deputies.  A  conference  was  there 
to  be  held  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations, 
concerning  the  best  means  of  protecting  their 
country  and  the  white  settlements  from  the 
assaults  of  the  enemy.  On  his  route,  Franklin 
drew  up  a  plan  for  the  union  of  all  the  Colo 
nies  under  one  government,  so  far  as  might  be 
necessary  for  defence,  and  other  important  pur 
poses.  It  proposed  that  the  general  government 


102  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

should  be  administered  by  a  president  appointed 
by  the  crown,  and  a  grand  council,  chosen  by  the 
provincial  assemblies,  the  council  being  autho 
rized  to  levy  taxes  for  all  common  exigencies. 
This  plan,  though  unanimously  sanctioned  by 
the  Congress,  was  rejected  by  the  Board  of 
Trade,  as  being  too  democratic  in  its  tenden 
cies,  and  by  the  Assemblies,  as  having  too 
much  of  prerogative  in  it. 

Franklin  was  always  of  the  opinion  that 
England  and  her  Colonies  would  both  have 
been  the  gainers,  had  this  scheme  been 
adopted. 

The  British  government  deeming  it  inexpe 
dient  to  permit  the  union  which  had  been 
discussed  at  Albany,  lest  the  Americans  might 
become  too  military  and  independent,  sent 
over  General  Braddock  with  two  regiments  of 
soldiers,  to  aid  them  in  the  war  with  the 
French. 

This  proud,  headstrong  officer,  landed  at 
Alexandria,  in  Virginia ;  and  thence  proceed 
ed  to  Fredericktown,  Maryland,  where  he 
halted  for  carriages.  "  Our  Assembly  appre 
hending,"  says  Franklin,  "  from  some  informa 
tion  that  he  had  received,  violent  prejudices 
against  them,  as  averse  to  the  service,  wished 


INTKKVIEW    WITH    BRADDOCK.  103 

me  to  wait  upon  him,  not  as  from  them,  but 
as  postmaster-general,  under  the  guise  of  pro 
posing  to  settle  with  him  the  mode  of  conduct 
ing  with  most  celerity  and  certainty  the  de 
spatches  between  him  and  the  governors  of 
the  several  provinces,  with  whom  he  must 
necessarily  have  continual  correspondence ; 
and  of  which  they  proposed  to  pay  the  ex 
pense.  My  son  accompanied  me  on  this  jour 
ney. 

"We  found  the  general  at  Fredericktown, 
waiting  impatiently  for  the  return  of  those  he 
had  sent  through  the  back  parts  of  Maryland 
and  Yirginia  to  collect  wagons.  I  stayed 
with  him  several  days,  dined  with  him  daily, 
and  had  full  opportunities  of  removing  his 
prejudices,  by  the  information  of  what  the 
Assembly  had  before  his  arrival  actually  done, 
and  were  still  willing  to  do,  to  facilitate  his 
operations.  When  I  was  about  to  depart,  the 
returns  of  wagons  to  be  obtained  were  brought 
in,  by  which  it  appeared  that  they  a-mounted 
only  to  twenty-five,  and  not  all  of  those  were 
in  serviceable  condition.  The  general  and  all 
the  officers  were  surprised,  declared  the  expe 
dition  was  then  at  an  end,  being  impossible ; 
and  exclaimed  against  the  ministers  for  igno- 


LIFE    OF    FKANKLIN. 


rantly  sending  them  into  a  country  destitute 
f  the  means  of  conveying  their  stores,  bag 
gage,  &c.,  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
wagons  being  necessary. 

"  I  happened  to  say,  I  thought  it  was  a  pity 
they  had  not  been  landed  in  Pennsylvania,  as 
m  that  country  almost  every  farmer  had  his 
wagon.     The  general  eagerly  laid  hold  of  my 
words,  and  said,   'Then  you,  sir,  who  are   a 
man  of  interest  there,  can  probably  procure 
them  for  us  :  and  I  beg  you  will  undertake  it.' 
[  asked   what  terms  were  to  be  offered  the 
owners  of  the  wagons;  and  I  was  desired  to 
put  on  paper  the  terms  that  appeared  to  me 
necessary.     This  I  did,  and  they  were  agreed 
to,  and  a  commission  and  instructions  accord 
ingly  prepared  immediately." 

Franklin  immediately  advertised  for  a  sup 
ply  of  wagons  and  horses,  and  in  the  course 
of  two  weeks  one  hundred  and  fifty  wagons, 
with  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  carrying- 
horses  were  on  their  way  to  the  camp.  The 
owners  demanded  security,  in  case  any  wagons 
or  horses  should  be  lost,  and  when  General 
Braddock's  word  was  pledged  for  this  pur 
pose,  they  refused  to  receive  it,  not  knowing 
what  dependence  to  place  in  it.  They,  how- 


OASTLTCS    IN    THE    AIR.  105 

ever,  took  Franklin's  bond  without  the  least 
hesitation.  The  general  was  highly  gratified 
with  his  conduct,  and  thanked  him  repeatedly 
for  his  prompt  assistance,  which  was  put  in 
requisition  still  further,  in  the  way  of  furnish 
ing  supplies  of  money  and  provisions. 

Some  idea  of  the  character  of  the  unfortu 
nate  English  officer  may  be  gathered  from  a 
little  incident  which  Franklin  has  recorded — 

"In  conversation  with  him,  one  day,  he 
was  giving  me  some  account  of  his  intended 
progress.  'After  taking  Fort  Duquesne,'  said 
he,  '  I  am  to  proceed  to  Niagara ;  and,  having 
taken  that,  to  Frontenac,  if  the  season  will 
allow  time,  and  I  suppose  it  will ;  for  Du 
quesne  can  hardly  detain  me  above  three  or 
four  days  ;  and  then  I  see  nothing  that  can 
obstruct  my  march  to  Niagara.'  Having  be 
fore  revolved  in  my  mind  the  long  line  his 
army  must  make  in  their  march  by  a  very 
narrow  road,  to  be  cut  for  them  through  the 
woods  and  bushes,  and  also  what  I  had  read 
of  a  former  defeat  of  fifteen  hundred  French, 
who  invaded  the  Illinois  country,  I  had  con 
ceived  some  doubts  and  some  fears  for  the 
event  of  the  campaign.  But  I  ventured  only 
to  say,  'To  be  sure,  sir,  if  you  arrive  well 


106  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

before  Duquesne,  with  these  fine  troops,  so 
well  provided  with  artillery,  the  fort,  though 
completely  fortified,  and  assisted  with  a  very 
strong  garrison,  can  probably  make  but  a 
short  resistance.  The  only  danger  I  appre 
hend  of  obstruction  to  your  march  is  from  the 
ambuscades  of  the  Indians,  who,  by  constant 
practice,  are  dexterous  in  laying  and  execut 
ing  them ;  and  the  slender  line,  near  four 
miles  long,  which  your  army  must  make,  may 
expose  it  to  be  attacked  by  surprise  in  its 
flanks,  and  to  be  cut  like  a  thread  into  several 
pieces,  which,  from  their  distance,  cannot  come 
up  in  time  to  support  each  other.' 

"  He  smiled  at  my  ignorance,  and  replied — 
'These  savages  may  indeed  be  a  formidable 
enemy  to  your  raw  American  militia;  but 
upon  the  king's  regular  and  disciplined  troops, 
sir,  it  is  impossible  they  should  make  any  im 
pression.'  I  was  conscious  of  an  impropriety 
in  my  disputing  with  a  military  man  in  mat 
ters  of  his  profession,  and  said  no  more." 

It  will  be  needless  here  to  dwell  upon  the 
particulars  of  Braddock's  unfortunate  expedi 
tion  and  inglorious  defeat.  Irving's  "  Life  of 
Washington"  furnishes  a  full  and  authentic 
description  of  it  (vol.  ii.,  p.  468). 


DESTRUCTION    OF    GNADKNHUTTEV.  107 

After  Braddock's  defeat,  Franklin  intro 
duced  a  bill  into  the  Assembly  of  Pennsyl 
vania  for  establishing  a  volunteer  militia,  and 
having  received  a  commission  as  commander, 
he  soon  raised  a  corps  of  five  hundred  and 
sixty  men.  His  son,  who  had  seen  some  ser 
vice  in  the  previous  war,  was  now  of  great 
assistance  in  helping  to  bring  this  little  army 
into  something  like  order.. 

The  northwestern  frontier,  which  had  been 
sorely  infested  by  the  enemy,  was  the  quarter 
whence  danger  was  most  apprehended,  and 
the  governor  prevailed  upon  Franklin  to  pro 
ceed  thither,  and  build  a  line  of  forts  for  the 
protection  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  Indians  had  recently  burned  Gnaden- 
hutten,  a  village  of  the  Moravians,  and  mur 
dered  the  people. 

Franklin  assembled  the  companies  at  Beth 
lehem,  the  chief  Moravian  settlement,  and  was 
agreeably  surprised  to  find  it  in  so  good  a 
posture  of  defence.  It  was  in  January,  1755, 
that  the  important  business  of  fort-building 
began.  The  soldiers  encamped  upon  the 
ground  where  Gnadenhutten  had  stood,  and  a 
fortification  of  pine-trees  was  soon  raised, — a 
poor  protection,  indeed,  against  the  assaults  of 


108  LIFE   OF    FRANKLIN. 

regular  troops,  but  quite  sufficient  to  keep  the 
Indians  at  bay. 

Mr.  Beatty,  the  zealous  Presbyterian  chap 
lain,  complained  to  the  commander  that  the 
men  were  very  reluctant  to  attend  his  prayers 
and  exhortations.  As  a  part  of  their  daily 
rations,  they  were  entitled  to  a  gill  of  rum — 
half  in  the  morning,  and  the  other  half  at 
night.  Franklin  smiled,  and  said  to  the  mor 
tified  chaplain — 

"It  is  perhaps  below  the  dignity  of  your 
profession  to  act  as  steward  of  the  rum,  but 
if  you  were  only  to  distribute  it  out  after 
prayers,  you  would  have  them  all  about  you." 

The  idea  pleased  him,  and  with  the  assist 
ance  of  a  few  hands,  he  measured  out  the 
liquor  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties,  and 
never  were  prayers  more  generally  and  punc 
tually  attended. 

The  fort  had  hardly  been  finished  and  stored 
with  provisions,  when  Franklin  received  a  let 
ter  from  the  governor,  informing  him  that  he 
had  called  the  Assembly,  and  requesting  his 
attendance,  if  he  could  possibly  be  spared 
from  the  camp.  Upon  reaching  Philadelphia, 
he  was  gratified  to  find  that  his  militia  system 
was  working  admirably, — twelve  huncred 


109 

men  having  enlisted,  and  these,  with  six  brass 
cannon,  made  quite  a  formidable  appearance. 
The  officers  met  and  chose  Franklin  for  their 
colonel.  The  first  time  that  he  reviewed  his 
regiment,  the  soldiers  escorted  him  back  to 
his  house,  and  insisted  on  firing  some  rounds 
before  his  door,  which  shook  down  and  broke 
several  glasses  of  his  electrical  apparatus. 

"  My  new  honors  proved  not  much  less 
brittle,"  he  pleasantly  remarks ;  "  for  all  our 
commissions  were  soon  after  broken  by  a  re 
peal  of  the  law  in  England." * 


*  Autobiography,  Spark's  edition,  p.  205.  This  most  inter 
esting  fragment  was  written  in  several  portions.  "  It  was  first 
commenced  at  Twyford,  the  country  residence  of  the  good 
Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  in  1771,  and  addressed  to  his  son,  the 
governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  continued  at  intervals,  till  the 
Revolutionary  War  occupied  the  writer's  time  exclusively.  It 
was  again,  at  the  solicitation  of  his  friends,  James  and  Vaug- 
han,  resumed  at  Pussy,  in  1784,  und  afterwards  continued  in 
America.  The  history  of  the  several  editions  of  this  work  is 
curious.  It  was  first,  as  was  the  case  with  Jefferson's  "  Notes 
on  Virginia,"  published  in  French,  translated  from  the  author's 
manuscript.  This  version  was  re-translated  into  English,  and 
published  for  the  first  time  in  that  language  in  London,  in 
1793.  Oddly  enough,  in  another  French  edition,  which  ap 
peared  in  Paris  in  1798,  the  autobiography  was  again  translated 
into  French  from  the  English  version  of  the  foreign  language. 
The  work  as  Franklin  wrote  it,  in  his  native  tongue,  was  first 
given  to  the  world  in  the  collection  of  his  writings,  by  his 
grandson,  William  Temple  Franklin,  in  1817.  The  translation 
10 


112  I.IFK    OF    FRANKLIN. 

plished,  quietly  and  successfully,  its  important 
purpose  of  enlightening  the  public  mind,  and 
of  preparing  those  in  office  to  act  with  a  bet 
ter  understanding  of  the  subject,  when  the 
proper  time  should  come. 

Franklin  while  devoting  himself  mainly  to 
the  affairs  of  his  agency,  visited  various  parts 
of  England  and  Scotland,  and  made  many 
friends  among  the  most  distinguished  men  of 
the  day.  It  was  by  his  advice  that  the  expe 
dition  against  Canada  was  projected,  which 
ended  in  the  victory  of  Wolfe  at  Quebec,  and 
the  conquest  of  that  country.  He  was  made 
a  Doctor  of  Laws  by  the  universities  of  Edin 
burgh  and  Oxford. 

After  a  delay  of  almost  three  years,  Frank 
lin  succeeded  in  bringing  his  public  business 
to  a  close,  the  case  being  decided  in  June, 
1760.  Pie  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  his  services  met  with  the  entire  approba 
tion  of  his  constituents. 

As  the  war  with  France  was  about  to  termi 
nate,  the  question  began  to  be  discussed  among 
politicians,  as  to  which  of  the  possessions  taken 
from  the  enemy,  it  would  be  most  important 
for  England  to  retain.  The  American  phi 
losopher  seized  his  ready  pen,  and  prepared 


TRAVEL  THROUGH  HOLLAND.       113 

an  anonymous  tract,  "The  Interest  of  Great 
Britain  considered,"  in  which  he  gave  various 
reasons  for  keeping  Canada.  These  were  so 
clear  and  convincing,  that  they  weighed  down 
all  opposition.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  Frank 
lin  was  thus  instrumental,  in  some  degree,  in 
adding  Canada  to  the  British  dominions,  which 
proved  to  be  the  first  step  towards  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  Colonies,  a  result  which  the 
same  master-mind  contributed  so  much  to  ac 
complish. 

Crossing  the  Atlantic  was  at  that  day  too 
formidable  an  undertaking  to  be  thought  of 
very  often,  and  now  that  he  was  in  England, 
he  determined  to  make  the  best  use  of  his 
time.  Accordingly,  in  1761,  he  travelled 
through  Holland  and  Flanders,  returning  in 
season  to  be  present  at  the  coronation  of  George 
the  Third.  His  philosophical  studies  were 
continued,  whenever  the  opportunity  was 
afforded  him. 

While  staying  in  London,  he  saw  for  the 
first  time,  an  instrument,  consisting  of  musical 
glasses,  upon  which  tunes  were  played  by 
passing  a  wet  finger  round  their  brims.  Al 
though  charmed  with  the  sweetness  of  its 
tones,  the  instrument  appeared  to  him  to  be 
10* 


114 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


less  perfect  than  it  might  be,  and  after  various 
trials  he  succeeded  in  constructing  one  of  a 
different  form,  and  more  commodious.  He 
called  it  the  Afmonica,  in  honor  of  the  musi 
cal  language  of  the  Italians. 

At  the  beginning  of  1762,  Dr.  Franklin 
began  to  prepare  for  his  departure  to  America, 
although  his  friends  were  warmly  urging  him 
to  send  for  his  family,  and  to  make  his  home 
in  London.  He  sailed  from  Portsmouth  to 
wards  the  close  of  August,  and  arrived  at 
Philadelphia  on  the  first  of  November,  after 
an  absence  of  more  than  five  years.  His 
friends,  both  political  and  private,  flocked 
around  him  to  offer  their  congratulations  on 
the  success  of  his  mission,  and  his  safe  return. 


CHAPTER    TENTH. 

No  time  for  domestic  enjoyment — The  duties  of  postmaster- 
general — Extensive  tour  of  duty— Sarah  Franklin — New  diffi 
culties—Sensible  letter— Value  which  Franklin  attached  to 
the  Prayer-book — Once  more  in  England— The  Stamp  Act, 
and  the  troubles  which  grew  out  of  it — Franklin's  efforts  to 
set  matters  right— Examination  before  the  House  of  Commons 
— Becomes  more  bold  and  decided — The  English  ministry 
once  more  in  mischief— Franklin  becomes  weary  of  ineffec 
tual  efforts  for  better  things — Hasty  departure  for  America — 
Death  of  his  wife — Some  particulars  concerning  her. 

AFTER  so  long  an  absence,  it  would  have 
been  grateful  to  Franklin's  feelings  to  be 
allowed,  for  a  time  at  least,  to  enjoy  the  quiet 
and  repose  of 'home;  but  public  duties  were 
still  pressing  upon  him,  and  he  was  not  dis 
posed  to  neglect  them.  At  «ach  election, 
while  he  was  in  Europe,  he  had  been  chosen  a 
member  of  the  Assembly,  and  he  again  took 
his  seat  in  that  body,  displaying,  on  every 
occasion  of  difficulty  or  danger,  his  wonderful 
resources,  and  his  uncompromising  fidelity  to 
the  real  interests  of  his  country. 

Holding  the  position  of  postmaster-general 
in    America,  live   months   of  the   year   1763 


116  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

were  spent  in  travelling  through  the  northern 
colonies  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  the  post- 
offices.  The  whole  extent  of  his  tour  was 
about  sixteen  hundred  miles.  He  was  accom 
panied  by  his  daughter,*  who  rode  nearly  all 

*  Sarah  Franklin  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  September,  1744. 
Pier  father  was  such  an  advocate  of  liberal  education,  that  we 
may  feel  sure  that  her  early  advantages  were  very  respectable. 
She  married  in  1767  ;  her  husband,  Richard  Bache,  a  Philadel 
phia  merchant,  being  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England. 

The  only  daughter  of  Dr.  Franklin  had  been  too  thoroughly 
trained  in  the  school  of  patriotism,  to  act  any  but  a  noble  part 
in  the  struggle  for  independence.  We  find  her  very  busy  in  pro 
viding  clothes  for  the  American  soldiers  during  the  severe  win 
ter  of  1780.  The  Marquis  de  Chastellux,  thus  notices  a  visit  he 
made  to  her  about  this  time.  After  detailing  the  preliminaries 
of  the  visit,  he  goes  on  :  "Mrs.  Bache  merited  all  the  anxiety 
we  had  to  see  her,  for  she  is  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Franklin. 
Simple  in  her  manners  like  her  respected  father,  she  possesses 
his  benevolence.  She  conducted  us  into  a  room  filled  with 
work,  lately  finished  by  the  ladies  of  Philadelphia.  This  work 
consisted  neither  of  embroidered  tambour  waistcoats,  nor  of 
net-work  edging,  nor  of  gold  and  silver  brocade.  It  was  a 
quantity  of  shirts  for  the  soldiers  of  Pennsylvania.  The  ladies 
bought  the  linen  from  their  own  private  purses,  and  took  a 
pleasure  in  cutting  them  out  and  sewing  themselves.  On  each 
shirt  was  the  name  of  the  lady  who  made  it,  and  they  amount 
ed  to  twenty-two  hundred." 

A  letter  from  M.  de  Marbois  to  Dr.  Franklin,  the  succeeding 
year,  thus  speaks  of  his  daughter:  "If  there  are  in  Europe  any 
women  who  need  a  model  of  attachment  to  domestic  duties  and 
love  for  their  country,  Mrs.  Bache  may  be  pointed  out  to  them 
as  such.  She  passed  a  part  of  the  last  year  in  exertions  to  rouse 


APPOINTED    AGENT.  117 

the  way  from  Khode  Island  to  Philadelphia 
on  horseback,  while  he  drove  himself  in  a 
light  carriage. 

New  difficulties  continuing  to  arise  between 
the  province  and  the  Proprietaries,  the  Assem 
bly  at  last  determined  to  petition  for  the  estab 
lishment  of  a  regal  government,  and  Franklin 
was  again  appointed  agent,  in  1764.  Twelve 
days  after  receiving  this  fresh  evidence  of  pub 
lic  confidence,  he  left  Philadelphia  (Novem 
ber  7),  accompanied  by  a  cavalcade  of  three 
hundred  citizens,  who  attended  him  as  far  as 
Chester,  where  he  took  ship. 

"  The  affectionate  leave  taken  of  me  by  so 
many  dear  friends  at  Chester,"  said  he,  "  was 


the  zeal  of  the  Pennsylvania  ladies,  and  she  made  on  this  occa 
sion  such  a  happy  use  of  the  eloquence  which  you  know  she 
possesses,  that  a  large  part  of  the  American  army  was  provided 
with  shirts,  bought  with  their  money,  or  made  by  their  hands. 
In  her  applications  for  this  purpose,  she  showed  the  most  inde 
fatigable  zeal,  the  most  unwearied  perseverance,  and  a  courage 
iti  asking,  which  surpassed  even  the  obstinate  1'eluctance  of  the 
Quakers  in  refusing." 

Such  were  the  women  o  America  during  the  long  and  fear 
ful  struggle  which  preceded  the  independence  of  the  United 
States.  Few,  indeed,  had  the  talents  and  opportunities  to  per 
form  so  many  benevolent  deeds  as  Mrs.  Bache  ;  her  patriotism 
has  made  her  an  example  for  her  countrywomen.  She  died  in 
1803,  aged  sixty-four  years. 


118  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

very  endearing.  God  bless  them  and  all  Penn 
sylvania."  He  sailed  the  next  day,  but  the 
vessel  was  detained  over  night  at  Reedy 
Island,  in  the  Delaware.  At  that  place  he 
wrote  a  letter  to  his  daughter,  from  which  the 
following  is  an  extract : 

"  My  dear  child,  the  natural  prudence  and 
goodness  of  heart  God  has  blessed  you  with, 
make  it  less  necessary  for  me  to  be  particular 
in  giving  you  advice.  I  shall  therefore  only 
say,  that  the  more  attentively  dutiful  and  ten 
der  you  are  towards  your  good  mamma,  the 
more  you  will  recommend  yourself  to  me. 
But  why  should  I  mention  me,  when  you  have 
so  much  higher  a  promise  in  the  command 
ments,  that  such  conduct  will  recommend  you 
to  the  favor  of  God.  You  know  I  have  many 
enemies,  all  indeed  on  the  public  account  (for 
I  cannot  recollect  that  I  have  in  a  private  ca 
pacity  given  just  cause  of  oifence  to  any  one 
whatever),  yet  they  are  enemies,  and  very 
bitter  ones ;  and  you  must  expect  their  enmity 
will  extend  in  some  degree  to  you,  so  that 
your  slightest  indiscretions  will  be  magnified 
into  crimes,  in  order  the  more  sensibly  to 
wound  and  afflict  me.  It  is,  therefore,  the 
more  necessary  for  you  to  be  extremely  cir- 


LETTER    TO    HIS    DAUGHTER. 

cumspect  in  all  your  behavior,  that  no  advan 
tage  may  be  given  to  their  malevolence. 

"Go  constantly  to  church,  whoever  preaches. 
The  act  of  devotion  in  the  Common  Prayer 
Book  is  your  principal  business  there,  and  if 
properly  attended  to,  will  do  more  towards 
amending  the  heart  than  sermons  generally 
can  do ;  for  they  were  composed  by  men  of 
much  greater  piety  and  wisdom  than  our  com 
mon  composers  of  sermons  can  pretend  to  be ; 
and  therefore  I  wish  you  would  never  miss 
the  prayer  days;  yet  I  do  not  mean  you 
should  despise  sermons,  even  of  the  preachers 
you  dislike;  for  the  discourse  is  often  much 
better  than  the  man,  as  sweet  and  clear  waters 
come  through  very  dirty  earth.  I  am  the 
more  particular  on  this  head  as  you  seemed  to 
express,  a  little  before  I  came  away,  some  in 
clination  to  leave  our  church,  which  I  would 
not  have  you  do." 

Sarah  Franklin  was  now  in  her  twentieth 
year,  an  age  when  the  advice  of  a  father  was 
especially  needed ;  and  the  judicious  hints  con 
tained  in  this  letter  are  worthy  the  attention 
of  many  in  our  own  day.  That  the  philoso 
pher  did  not  undervalue  good  preaching  is 
clear  from  the  interest  which  he  always  felt  in 


120  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

Whiten' eld's  discourses,  but  at  the  same  time 
he  believed  that  the  Church  Service  was  of 
more  importance  than  the  most  able  sermon.* 


*  Dr.  Franklin's  interest  in  the  Prayer-book  appears  every 
no\v  and  then,  in  little  incidental  references  scattered  through 
out  his  extensive  correspondence.  Thus,  in  writing  to  his 
wife  from  London,  June  10,  1756,  he  says:  "I  have  ordered 
two  large  print  Prayer-books  to  be  bound  on  purpose  for  yon 
and  Goody  Smith.  So  you  will  both  of  you  be  reprieved  from 
the  use  of  spectacles  in  church  a  little  longer."- — Sparks,  vol. 
vii.,  p.  170. 

Again,  under  date  June  16,  1763 :  "  You  spent  your  Sunday 
very  well,  but  I  think  you  should  go  oftener  to  church." — 
Sparks,  vol.  vii.,  p.  254. 

it  is  a  curious  fact  that  Dr.  Franklin  was,  to  some  extent,  the 
father  of  what  we  call  the  Memorial  Movement— at  least,  so  far 
as  the  curtailment  of  the  Church  Service  is  concerned,  and  its 
adaptation  to  circumstances.  While  we  trust  that  no  church 
man  would  be  willing  to  see  the  book  changed  to  the  extent 
which  he  proposed,  the  preface  to  his  work  exhibits  his  views 
in  regard  to  public  worship  more  fully  than  they  are  anywhere 
else  to  be  found,  and  so  far  it  is  a  curiosity.  It  must  also  be 
remembered  that  it  was  the  English  Prayer-book  which  he  had 
in  view,  and  that  many  judicious  alterations  have  since  been 
made  in  our  own.  Franklin's  book  is  entitled,  "  Abridgment 
of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,"  &c.,  and  was  printed  in  Lon 
don  in  1773.  We  quote  a  part  of  the  preface,  which  is  still  ex 
tant  in  his  own  handwriting: 

-PREFACE. 

"The  editor  of  the  following  abridgment  of  the  Liturgy  of 
the  Church  of  England  thinks  it  but  decent  and  respectful  to 
all,  more  particularly  to  the  reverend  body  of  clergy  who  adorn 
the  Protestant  feligion  by  their  good  works,  preaching,  and 


ABRIDGING    THE   PEAYEE-BOOK.  121 

After  a  stormy  passage  of  thirty  days,  Dr. 
Franklin  found  himself  once  more  in  England. 
When  the  news  came  back  to  Philadelphia, 


ex 


ample,  that  he  should  humbly  offer  some  reasons  for  such 
an  undertaking.     He  addresses  himself  to  the  serious  and  dis 
cerning,     lie  professes  himself  to  be  a  Protestant  of  the  Church 
of  England,  and  holds  in  the  highest  veneration  the  doctrines 
of  Jesus  Christ.     He  is  a  sincere  lover  of  social  worship,  deeply 
sensible  of  its  usefulness  to  society  ;  and  he  aims  at  doing  some 
service  to  religion  by  proposing  such  abbreviations  and  omis 
sions  in   the  forms  of  our  Liturgy  (retaining  every  thing  he 
thinks  essential)  as  might,  if  adopted,  procure  a  more  general 
attendance.     For,   besides   the   differing   sentiments  of  many 
pious   and  well-disposed  persons  in   some  speculative  points, 
who  iu  general  have  a  good  opinion  of  our  Church,  it  has  often 
been  observed  and  complained  of  that  the  Morning  and  Even 
ing  Service,  as  practised  in  England  and  elsewhere,  are  so  long, 
and  filled  with  so  many  repetitions,  that  the  continued  atten 
tion  suitable  to  so  serious  a  duty  becomes  impracticable,  the 
mind   wanders,    and   the   fervency  of  devotion   is   slackened. 
Also,  the  propriety  of  saying  the  same  prayer  more  than  once 
in  the  same  service  is  doubted,  as  the  service  is  thereby  length- 
due  d  without  apparent  necessity— our  Lord  having  given  us  a 
short  prayer   as   an    example,   and  censured  the  heathen   for 
thinking  to  be  heard  because  of  much  speaking.     Moreover, 
many  pious  and  devout  persons,  whose  age  or  infirmities  will 
not  suffer  them  to  remain  for  hours  in  a  cold  church,  especially 
in  the  winter  season,  are  obliged  to  forego  the  comfort  and  edi 
fication  they  would  receive  by  their  attendance  on  divine  ser 
vice.     These,  by  shortening  the  time,  would  be  relieved ;  and 
the  younger  sort,  who  have  had  some  principles  of  religion  in 
stilled  into  them,  and  who  have  been  educated  in  a  belief  of 
the  necessity  of  adoring  their  Maker,  would  probably  more 
frequently,  as  well 'as  cheerfully,  attend  divine  service,  if  they 
were  not  detained  so  long  at  any  one  time.     Also,  many  well-  • 
11 


122  LIFE   OF   FKANKLIN. 

his  friends  celebrated  the  event  by  the  ringing 
of  bells,  and  other  demonstrations  of  joy. 
Although  Franklin  had  been  sent  to  Eng- 


disposed  tradesmen,  shopkeepers,  artificers,  and  others,  whose 
habitations  are  not  remote  from  churches,  could  and  would, 
more  frequently  at  least,  find  time  to  attend  divine  service  on 
other  than  Sundays,  if  the  prayers  were  reduced  into  a  much 
narrower  compass.  Formerly  there  were  three  services  per 
formed,  at  different  times  of  the  day,  which  three  services  are 
now  usually  joined  in  one.  This  may  suit  the  conveniency  of 
the  person  who  officiates,  but  is  too  often  inconvenient  and 
tiresome  to  the  congregation.  If  this  abridgment,  therefore, 
should  ever  meet  with  acceptance,  the  well-disposed  clergy, 
who  are  laudably  desirous  to  encourage  the  frequency  of  divine 
service,  may  promote  so  great  and  good  a  purpose  by  repeating 
it  three  times  on  a  Sunday,  without  so  much  fatigue  to  them 
selves  as  at  present.  Suppose  at  nine  o'clock,  at  eleven,  and 
at  one  in  the  evening;  and  by  preaching  no  more  sermons 
than  usual,  of  a  moderate  length,  and  thereby  accommodate  a 
greater  number  of  people  with  convenient  hours. 

"These  were  general  reasons  for  wishing  and  proposing  an 
abridgment.  In  attempting  it,  we  do  not  presume  to  dictate 
even  to  a  single  Christian.  We  are  sensible  there  is  a  proper 
authority  in  the  rulers  of  the  Church  for  ordering  such  matters; 
and  whenever  the  time  shall  come  when  it  may  be  thought  not 
unreasonable  to  revise  our  Liturgy,  there  is  no  doubt  but  every 
suitable  improvement  will  be  made,  under  the  care  and  direc 
tion  of  so  much  learning,  wisdom,  and  piety  in  one  body  of 
men  collected.  Such  a  work  as  this  must  then  be  much  better 
executed.  In  the  mean  time,  this  humble  performance  may 
serve  to  show  the  practicability  of  shortening  the  service  near 
one-half,  without  the  omission  of  what  is  essentially  necessary  ; 
and  we  hope,  moreover,  that  the  book  may  be  occasionally  of 
some  use  to  families  or  private  assemblies  of  Christians."  - 
Spark-i.  vol.  x.,  p.  '20,'. 


BEFORE  THE  HOUSE  OF  COMMONS.     123 

land  as  the  special  agent  for  Pennsylvania, 
circumstances  soon  led  him  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  affairs  of  the  other  colonies.  The 
unjust  and  unpopular  project  for  taxing  the 
American  people  had  already  been  announced, 
and  he  carried  with  him  a  remonstrance  of  the 
Provincial  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  against 
it,  which  he  presented  to  Mr.  Grenville  before 
the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act.  He  resisted  the 
adoption  of  that  measure,  and  from  its  passage 
(1765)  to  its  repeal  (1766),  spared  no  pains  to 
prove  how  unconstitutional  and  impolitic  such 
an  act  would  be.  "When  the  repeal  was  about 
to  be  attempted,  it  was  arranged  by  his  friends 
that  he  should  be  examined  on  the  whole 
question  before  the  House  of  Commons.  This 
memorable  examination  took  place  on  the  3d 
of  February,  1766. 

Franklin's  dignified  bearing,  his  self-posses 
sion,  the  promptness  and  propriety  with  which 
he  replied  to  every  question,  the  familiar  ac 
quaintance  which  he  displayed  with  political 
affairs,  and  the  fearlessness  with  which  he  de 
fended  the  course  which  his  countrymen  had 
pursued,  all  combined  to  arrest  the  attention, 
and  call  forth  the  astonishment  of  those  who 
heard  him. 


124  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

When  he  was  asked,  whether  the  Americans 
would  pay  the  stamp  duty  if  it  were  moder 
ated,  he  answered,  "No!  never,  unless  com 
pelled  by  force  of  arms."  Again,  when  it  was 
inquired  how  the  Americans  would  receive 
another  tax,  imposed  upon  the  same  principles, 
he  said,  "  Just  as  they  do  this  ;  they  will  never 
pay."  And  again,  he  was  asked  whether  the 
Americans  would  rescind  their  resolutions,  if 
the  Stamp  Act  were  repealed.  To  this  he  re 
plied,  "  No,  never ;  they  will  never  do  it,  unless 
compelled  by  force  of  arms."  He  was  also 
questioned  as  to  the  non-importation  agree 
ments,  and  asked  whether  the  Americans 
would  not  soon  become  tired  of  them,  and  fall 
back  to  purchasing  British  manufactures  as  be 
fore.  He  said  he  did  not  believe  they  would ; 
that  he  knew  his  countrymen ;  that  they  had 
materials,  and  industry  to  work  them  up  ;  that 
they  could  make  their  own  clothes,  and  would 
make  them ;  that  they  loved  liberty,  and 
would  maintain  their  rights.  The  examination 
was  closed  with  the  two  following  questions 
and  answers  : — "  What  used  to  be  the  pride  of 
the  Americans  ?"  He  answered,  "  To  indulge 
in  the  fashions  and  manufactures  of  Great 
Britain."  "What  is  now  their  pride?"  "To 


REPEAL    OF    THE    STAMP    ACT.  125 

wear  their  old  clothes  over  again  till  they  can 
make  new  ones." 

After  a  long  and  exciting  debate  in  Parlia 
ment,  the  Stamp  Act  was  repealed.  Still  the 
infatuated  ministry  must  devise  some  fresh 
cause  of  mischief.  On  the  passage  of  the  rev 
enue  acts  of  1767,  Dr.  Franklin  became  still 
more  bold  and  earnest  in  his  expostulations, 
and  openly  predicted  in  England,  that  the  in 
evitable  result  of  those  and  the  other  similar 
measures  of  the  ministry  would  be  a  general 
resistance  by  the  colonies,  and  a  separation 
from  the  mother  country.  But  he  never  de 
viated  from  his  original  plan,  to  make  every 
effort  to  enlighten  the  public  opinion  in  Eng 
land,  to  arrest  the  ministry  in  their  infatua 
tion,  and  to  inculcate  moderation  and  patience, 
as  well  as  constancy  and  unanimity  in  Amer 
ica.  He  endeavored,  at  the  same  time,  to 
stand  well  with  the  British  Government,  aware 
that  this  was  necessary  to  enable  him  to  serve 
his  country  effectually;  while  he  never  ceased 
to  proclaim  the  rights,  justify  the  proceedings, 
and  animate  the  courage  of  his  countrymen. 
He  was  not  ignorant,  to  use  his  own  words, 
"  that  this  course  would  render  him  suspected 
in  England  of  being  too  much  an  American, 
ii* 


126 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


and  in  America  of  being  too  much  of  an  Eng 
lishman."  His  transmission  of  the  celebrated 
letters  of  Hutchinson  and  Oliver  (1772),  which 
had  been  placed  in  his  hands,  is  not  the  least 
memorable  of  his  acts  at  this  opening  period 
of  the  revolution.  He  immediately  avowed 
his  own  share  in  the  transaction,  although  he 
never  divulged  the  names  of  the  persons  from 
whom  he  had  received  them.  The  indignant 
petition  of  the  Assembly  of  Massachusetts,  in 
consequence  of  these  letters,  was  presented  by 
him  to  the  ministry,  and  he  was  immediately 
made  the  object  of  the  most  virulent  abuse,  and 
held  up  to  the  hatred  and  ridicule  of  the  Brit 
ish  nation.  He  met  the  conflict  with  no  less 
spirit  than  wit,  as  is  particularly  exemplified  in 
his  two  satirical  pieces,  the  Prussian  Edict,  and 
the  Eules  for  reducing  a  great  Empire  to  a 
small  one.  At  the  discussion  of  the  petition 
before  the  privy  council,  Franklin  was  present. 
Wedderburn  (afterwards  Lord  Loughborough), 
the  solicitor-general,  assailed  him  with  the  most 
coarse  invective,  styling  the  venerable  philoso 
pher,  and  the  official  representative  of  four  of 
the  American  provinces,  a  "  thief  and  a  mur 
derer,"  who  had  "  forfeited  all  the  respect  of 
society  and  of  men."  The  ministry  now  dis- 


CHATHAM'S  EULOGY  ON  FRANKLIN.       127 

missed  him  from  his  place  of  deputy  postmas 
ter-general,  and  a  chancery  suit  was  instituted 
in  relation  to  the  letters,  for  the  purpose  of 
preventing  him  from  attempting  his  own  vin 
dication. 

Attempts  were  made,  as  the  difficulties  in 
creased,  to  corrupt  the  man  whom  it  had  been 
found  impossible  to  intimidate  ;  "  any  reward, 
unlimited  recompense,  honors,  and  recompense 
beyond  his  expectations,"  were  promised  him  ; 
but  he  was  as  inaccessible  to  corruption  as  to 
threats. 

It  was  at  this  period  that  he -presented  the 
petition  of  the  first  American  Congress;  and 
he  attended  behind  the  bar  (Feb.  1,  1775), 
in  the  House  of  Lords,  when  Chatham  pro 
posed  his  plan  of  a  reconciliation.  In  the 
course  of  the  debate,  that  great  man  character 
ized  him  as  "  one  whom  all  Europe  held  in 
high  estimation  for  his  knowledge  and  wisdom ; 
who  was  an  honor,  not  to  the  English  nation 
only,  but  to  human  nature." 

Franklin  was  growing  extremely  weary  of 
his  fruitless  efforts  to  arrange  the  unhappy  dif 
ficulties  which  prevailed,  and  wrote  to  his  son 
in  January,  1772,  "I  have  of  late  great  de 
bates  with  myself,  whether  or  not  I  shall  con- 


128  L1FK    OF    FRANKLIN. 

tirme  here  any  longer.  I  grow  home-sick,  and, 
being  now  in  my  sixty-seventh  year,  I  begin 
to  apprehend  some  infirmity  of  age  may  attack 
me,  and  make  my  return  impracticable.  I 
have  also  some  important  affairs  to  settle  be 
fore  my  death,  a  period  I  ought  now  to  think 
cannot  be  far  distant.  I  see  here  no  disposition 
in  Parliament  to  meddle  further  in  Colony  af 
fairs  for  the  present,  either  to  lay  more  duties 
or  to  repeal  any  ;  and  I  think,  though  1  were 
to  return  again,  I  may  be  absent  from  here  a 
year  without  any  prejudice  to  the  business  I 
am  engaged  in  ;  though  it  is  not  probable  that, 
being  once  at  home,  I  should  ever  again  see 
England.  I  have,  indeed,  so  many  good,  kind 
friends  here,  that  I  could  spend  the  remainder 
of  my  life  among  them  with  great  pleasure, 
if  it  were  not  for  my  American  connections, 
and  the  indelible  affection  I  retain  for  that 
country  from  which  I  have  been  so  long  in  a 
state  of  exile." 

His  friends,  however,  urged  him  so  strongly 
to  delay  his  departure,  hoping  that  something 
might  yet  be  accomplished,  that  he  sacrificed 
his  own  convenience  and  comfort,  and  tarried 
until  he  received  an  intimation  that  he  was 
about  to  be  arrested  as  guilty  of  fomenting  re- 


DEATH    OF    MRS.    FRANKLIN.  129 

bellion  in  the  Colonies.  He  then  quitted  Eng 
land  in  haste  on  the  21st  of  March,  1775,  and 
reached  his  home  on  the  5th  of  May.  It  was 
now  left  unto  him  desolate,  his  wife  having 
died  in  the  spring  of  1774,  when  he  was  dili 
gently  making  his  preparations  to  return  to 
those  whom  lie  loved  most  dearly  upon  earth. 
Mrs.  Franklin  was  attacked  with  a  paralytic 
stroke  which  she  survived  only  live  days.  Her 
remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery  of  Christ 
Church,  on  the  side  next  to  Arch-street.  They 
had  been  married  forty-four  years,  and  lived 
together  in  uninterrupted  harmony  and  hap 
piness. 

Their  correspondence  during  his  long  ab 
sence,  a  great  part  of  which  has  been  preserved, 
is  affectionate  on  both  sides,  exhibiting  proofs 
of  an  unlimited  confidence  and  devoted  attach 
ment.  He  omitted  no  opportunity  to  send  her 
whatever  iTe  thought  would  contribute  to  her 
convenience  and  comfort,  accompanied  by  nu 
merous  little  tokens  of  remembrance  and  affec 
tion.  So  much  did  he  rely  on  her  prudence 
and  capacity,  that,  when  abroad,  he  intrusted 
to  her  the  management  of  his  private  affairs. 
Many  years  after  her  death,  in  writing  to  a 
young  lady,  he  said,  *'  Frugality  is  an  enrich- 


130  1,1  KK    OF    FRANKLIN. 

ing  virtue ;  a  virtue  I  never  could  acquire  my 
self,  but  I  was  once  lucky  enough  to  find  it  in 
my  wife,  who  therefore  became  a  fortune  to 
me."  The  little  song  which  he  wrote  in  her 
praise,  is  marked  with  a  playful  tenderness, 
and  contains  sentiments  creditable  to  his  feel 
ings  as  a  man  and  a  husband.  In  his  autobi 
ography  and  letters  he  often  mentions  his  wife, 
and  always  with  a  kindness  and  respect  which 
could  proceed  only  from  genuine  sensibility, 
and  a  high  estimate  of  her  character  and 
virtues. 

In  a  collection  of  "  Letters  to  Benjamin 
Franklin  from  his  family  and  friends"  (New 
York  :  C.  Benjamin  Richardson),  seven  of  Mrs. 
Franklin's  epistles  to  her  husband  are  pre 
served.  Every  line  breathes  less  the  wife  of 
the  statesman  than  the  domestic,  good  wife. 
Judging  from  her  portrait,  she  was  a  fine, 
handsome,  cheerful-looking  woman ;  and  she 
addresses  the  doctor  as  her  "  dear  child,"  en 
tertaining  him  with  the  gossip  of  the  day,  and 
the  various  little  incidents  in  her  domestic 
affairs. 


CHAPTEK    ELEVENTH. 

The  reader  is  introduced  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph— Franklin 
enj  ->ys  his  generous  hospitality— Keeping  a  grandson's  birth 
day—Chitchat  which  is  not  to  be  repeated— Franklin  begins 
his  autobiography— Dr.  Shipley's  noble  stand  in  regard  to 
American  affairs— Humorous  letter  on  the  death  of  Miss  Ship 
ley's  squirrel — A  touching  reminiscence — The  death  of  the 
good  bishop— Dr.  Franklin's  letter  of  condolence — Earthly 
friendships  brought  to  a  close. 

AS  a  pleasing  episode  after  all  the  stormy 
scenes  through  which  we  have  lately 
passed,  we  shall  introduce  our  readers  to  Dr. 
Shipley,  the  bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  a  man  dis 
tinguished  for  his  virtues,  his  abilities,  and  the 
steady  support  which  he  gave  to  the  principles 
of  civil  liberty.  He  was  a  devoted  friend  of 
Dr.  Franklin,  who,  on  various  occasions,  en 
joyed  the  generous  hospitalities  of  his  house  at 
Twyford,  in  Hampshire,  the  bishop's  summer 
residence.  The  following  letter  to  Mrs.  Frank 
lin,  from  her  devoted  husband,  wTill  be  read 
with  interest. 

"LONDON,  August  14,  177.1. 

"  MY  DEAE  CHILD  : 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  of  all  your  welfares, 
and  that  the  pictures  were  safe  arrived.     You 


132  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

do  not  tell  me  who  mounted  the  great  one, 
nor  where  you  have  hung  it  up.  '  Let  me  know 
whether  Dr.  Bond  likes  the  new  one  better 
tli an  the  old  one ;  if  so,  the  old  one  is  to  be 
returned  hither  to  Mr.  Wilson,  the  painter. 
You  may  keep  the  frame,  as  it  may  be  want 
ed  for  some  other  picture  there.  I  wrote  to 
you  a  letter  the  beginning  of  last  month, 
which  was  to  go  by  Captain  Falconer,  and 
have  since  been  in  the  country.  I  am  just 
returned  to  town,  and  find  him  still  here,  and 
the  letters  not  gone.  He  goes,  however,  next 
Saturday. 

"  I  had  written  to  many  of  my  friends  by 
him.  I  spent  three  weeks  in  Hampshire,  at 
my  friend,  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph's.  The 
bishop's  lady  knows  what  children  and  grand 
children  I  have  and  their  ages  ;  so,  wrhen  I  was 
to  come  away  on  Monday  the  12th,  in  the 
morning,  she  insisted  on  my  staying  that  one 
day  longer,  that  we  might  together  keep  my 
grandson's  birthday.  At  dinner,  among  other 
nice  things,  we  had  a  floating  island,  which 
they  always  particularly  have  on  the  birthdays 
of  any  of  their  own  six  children,  who  were  all 
but  one  at  table,  where  there  was  also  a  cler 
gyman's  widow,  now  above  one  hundred  years 


LETTER    TO    HIS    WIFE.  133 

old.  The  chief  toast  of  the  day  was  Master 
Benjamin  Bache,  which  the  venerable  old  lady 
began  in  a  bumper  of  mountain.  The  bishop's 
lady  politely  added,  '  and  that  he  may  be  as 
good  a  man  as  his  grandfather.'  I  said  I 
hoped  he  would  be  much  letter.  The  bishop, 
still  more  complaisant  than  his  lady,  said, 
'  We  will  compound  the  matter,  and  be  con 
tented  if  he  should  not  prove  quite  so  good? 
This  chitchat  is  to  yourself  only,  in  return  for 
some  of  yours  about  your  grandson,  and  must 
only  be  read  to  Sally,  and  not  spoken  of  to 
anybody  else  ;  for  you  know  how  people  add 
and  alter  silly  stories  that  they  hear,  and  make 
them  appear  ten  times  more  silly. 

"  Just  while  I  am  writing,  the  post  brings 
me  the  inclosed  from  the  good  bishop,  with 
some  letters  of  recommendation  for  Ireland,  to 
see  which  country  I  am  to  set  out  next  week 
with  my  old  friend  and  fellow-traveller,  Coun 
sellor  Jackson.  We  expect  to  be'  absent  a 
month  or  six  weeks.  The  bishop's  youngest 
daughter,  mentioned  in  his  letter,  is  about 
thirteen  years  of  age,  and  came  up  with  me  in 
the  post-chaise  to  go  to  school." 

It  is  worth  noting,  that  it  was  during  this 
visit  at  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph's,  that  Frank- 
12 


134 


LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 


lin  began  to  write  the  memoirs  of  his  life,  in 
the  form  of  a  letter  to  his  son. 

Dr.  Shipley  was  decidedly  opposed  to  the 
coercive  measures  adopted  by  the  British  gov 
ernment  against  the  American  colonies,  and 
in  a  sermon  before  the  Society  for  the  Propa 
gation  of  the  Gospel,  he  expressed  his  opinions 
with  the  greatest  boldness.  (See  Franklin's 
Works,  vol.  viii.,  p.  40.) 

Franklin's  humorous  letter  to  Miss  Georgia- 
na  Shipley,  one  of  the  bishop's  daughters,  will 
afford  my  young  readers  some  amusement. 

Her  epistles  to  the  distinguished  American 
prove  her  to  have  been  a  young  lady  of  a 
highly  cultivated  mind,  lively  sensibility,  and 
generous  disposition. 

Here  is  the  letter  just  referred  to. 

LONDON,  September  26,  1772. 
DEAR  Miss  : 

I  lament  with  you  most  sincerely  the 
unfortunate  end  of  poor  Mungo.  Few  squir 
rels  were  better  accomplished  ;  for  lie  had  had 
a  good  education,  had  travelled  far,  and  seen 
much  of  the  world.  As  he  had  the  honor  of 
being,  for  his  virtues,  your  favorite,  he  should 
not  go,  like  common  skuggs,  without  an  elegy 


KPITAPH.  135 

or  an  epitaph.  Let  us  .give  him  one  in  the 
monumental  style  and  measure,  which,  being 
neither  prose  nor  verse,  is  perhaps  the  proper- 
est  for  grief;  since  to  use  common  language 
would  look  as  if  we  were  not  affected,  and  to 
make  rhymes  would  seem  trifling  in  sorrow. 

EPITAPH. 

Alas!  poor  Mungo! 
Happy  wert  thou,  hadst  thou  known 

Thy  own  felicity. 
Eeinote  from  the  fierce  bald  eagle, 

Tyrant  of  thy  native  woods, 

Thou  hadst  naught  to  fear  from  his  piercing  talons 
Nor  from  the  murdering  gun 
Of  the  thoughtless  sportsman.        ^ 

Safe  in  thy  wired  castle, 

Grimalkin  never  could  annoy  thee. 

Daily  wert  thou  fed  with  the  choicest  viands, 

By  the  fair  hand  of  an  indulgent  mistress; 

Bat,  discontented, 

Thou  wouldst  have  more  freedom. 

Too  soon,  alas  !  didst  thou  obtain  it; 

And  wandering, 
Thou  art  fallen  by  the  fangs  of  wanton,  cruel  Eanger. 

Learn  hence, 

Ye  who  blindly  seek  more  liberty, 

Whether  subjects,  sons,  squirrels,  or  daughters, 

That  apparent  restraint  may  be  real  protection, 

Yielding  peace  and  plenty, 

With  security. 

You  see,   my   dear  miss,   how  much  more 


136 


LIFE    OF    KRAXKLIX. 


decent  and  proper  this  broken  style  is,  than  if 
we  were  to  say,  by  way  of  epitaph. 

Here  Skngg, 
Lies  snug, 
As  a  bug, ' 
lu  a  rug. 

And  yet,  perhaps,  there  are  people  in  the 
world  of  so  little  feeling  as  to  think  that  this 
would  be  a  good  enough  epitaph  for  poor 
Mu  n  go. 

If  you  wish  it,  I  shall  procure  another  to 
succeed  him  ;  but  perhaps  you  will  now 
choose  some  other  amusement. 

Remember  me  affectionately  to  all  the  good 
family,  and  believe  me  ever  your  affectionate 
friend,  'B.  FKANKLIN. 

On  Franklin's  return  home  in  1785,  after 
his  long  sojourn  in  France,  we  find  the  follow 
ing  reference,  in  one  of  his  letters,  to  his  friend 
Dr.  Shipley  and  his  amiable  family : 

"  I  bore  my  voyage  very  well,  and  find  my 
self  rather  better  for  it,  so  that  I  have  every 
possible  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  my  having 
undertaken  and  performed  it.  When  I  was 
at  Passy,  I  could  not  bear  a  wheel- carriage; 
and  being  discouraged  in  my  project  of  de- 


DI'.'ATH    OF    DR.   SHIPLEY.  137 

scending  the  Seine  in  a  boat  by  the  difficulties 
and  tediousness  of  its  navigation  in  so  dry  a 
season,  I  accepted  the  oiler  of  one  of  the  king's 
litters,  carried  by  large  mules,  which  brought 
me  well,  though  in  walking  slowly,  to  Havre. 
Thence  I  went  over  in  a  packet-boat  to  South 
ampton,  where  I  stayed  four  days,  till  the  ship 
came  for  me  to  Spithead.  Several  of  my  Lon 
don  friends  came  there  to  see  me,  particularly 
the  good  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  and  family,  who 
stayed  with  me  to  the  last." 

But  earthly  friendship  cannot  last  always. 
We  have  sad  evidence  of  this  in  the  com 
munication  which  follows.  The  Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph  died  on  the  9th  of  December,  1788. 

BOLTOX- STREET,  24th  December,  1788. 
MY  DEAR  FRIEND  : 

It  is  a  great  while  since  I  wrote  to  you, 
and  still  longer  since  I  heard  from  you ;  but  I 
have  now  a  particular  pleasure  in  writing  to 
one  who  had  long  known  and  loved  the  dear 
good  parent  I  have  lost.  You  will  probably, 
before  you  receive  this,  have  heard  of  my 
father's  death.  His  illness  was  short,  and  ter 
minated  in  an  apoplexy.  He  was  seldom  per- 
fec.-tlv  in  his  senses  ,"or  the  last  four  days;  but 

12* 


138  LIFE    OF    FK  A  XXL  IN. 

such  constant  calmness  and  composure  could 
only  have  attended  the  death-bed  of  a  truly 
good  man.  How  unlike  the  ideas  I  had 
formed  to  myself  of  death,  which,  till  now,  I 
had  only  seen  at  a  distance,  and  heard  of 
with  terror !  The  nearer  his  last  moment  ap 
proached,  the  more  his  ideas  seemed  elevated ; 
and  but  for  those  whom  living  he  had  loved 
with  tenderness,  and  dying  he  still  felt  inter 
ested  for,  he  showed  no  regret  at  leaving  this 
world.  I  believe  his  many  virtues  have  called 
down  a  blessing  on  his  family,  for  we  have  all 
been  supported  under  this  severe  affliction  be 
yond  what  I  could  have  imagined  ;  and  though 
sorrow  wrill  for  a  time  get  the  better  of  every 
other  sensation,  I  feel  now  that  the  strongest 
impression  left  by  his  death  is  the  desire  of 
imitating  his  virtues  in  an  humbler  sphere  of 
life. 

My  dear  mother's  health,  I  hope,  will  not 
have  suffered  materially ;  and  she  has  every 
consolation  to  be  derived  from  the  reflection, 
that,  for  forty-live  years,  it  was  the  study  of 
her  life  to  make  the  best  of  husbands  happy. 
He,  in  return,  has  shown  that  his  attention  to 
her  ease  and  comfort  did  not  end  with  his  life. 
He  was  happily  preserved  to  us  so  long  as  to 


TOUCHING    U;nEii.  139 

be  able  to  leave  all  his  family  in  good  circum 
stances.  I  fancy  my  mother,  Bessy,  and  I 
shall  live  at  Twyford.  but  at  present  no  place 
i.i  settled. 

May  I  natter  myself  that  you  will  still  feel 
iiome  affection  for  the  family  of  your  good  old 
friend,  and  let  me  have  the  happiness  of  hear 
ing  it  from  yourself. 

I  shall  request  Dr.  Price  to  send  this  letter. 
My  mother,  brother,  and  sisters  beg  to  be  all 
most  kindly  remembered. 

Believe  me,  dear  sir,  your  faithful  and 
obliged  CATHERINE  LOUISA  SHIPLEY. 

To  this  touching  letter,  Dr.  Franklin  thus 
replied,  and  with  this  we  take  our  leave  of  the 
good  bishop : 

PHILADELPHIA,  April  27,  1789. 
It  is  only  a  few  days  since  the  kind  letter  of 
my  dear  young  friend,  dated  December  24, 
came  to  my  hands.  I  had  before,  in  the  pub 
lic  papers,  met  with  the  afflicting  news  that 
letter  contained.  That  excellent  man  has  then 
left  us!  His  departure  is  a  loss,  not  to  his 
family  and  friends  only,  but  to  his  nation  and 
to  the  world ;  for  he  was  intent  on  doing  good, 
had  wisdom  to  devise  the  means,  and  talents 


140  LIIT:  OF  FIIANKLIN. 

to  promote  them.  His  "  Sermon  before  the 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,"  and  his 
"  Speech  intended  to  have  been  spoken,"  are 
proofs  of  his  ability  as  well  as  his  humanity. 
Had  his  counsels  in  those  pieces  been  attended 
to  by  the  ministers,  how  much  bloodshed  might 
have  been  prevented,  and  how  much  expense 
and  disgrace  to  the  nation  avoided ! 

Your  reflections  on  the  constant  calmness 
and  composure  attending  his  death  are  very 
sensible.  Such  instances  seem  to  show  that 
the  good  sometimes  enjoy  in  dying  a  foretaste 
of  the  happy  state  they  are  about  to  enter. 

According  to  the  course  of  years,  I  should 
have  quitted  this  world  long  before  him.  I 
shall,  however,  not  be  long  in  following.  I 
am  now  in  my  eighty-fourth  year,  and  the  last 
year  has  considerably  enfeebled  me,  so  that  I 
hardly  expect  to  remain  another.  You  will 
then,  my  dear  friend,  consider  this  as  probably 
the  last  line  to  be  received  from  me,  and  as  a 
taking  leave.  Present  my  best  and  most  sin 
cere  respects  to  your  good  mother,  and  love  to 
the  rest  of  the  family,  to  whom  I  wish  all  hap 
piness,  and  believe  me  to  be,  while  I  do  live, 
yours  most  affectionately,  B. 


CHAPTEE  TWELFTH. 


Dr.  Franklin  in  Congress — The  whole  country  in  agitation  on 
account  of  the  conflict  at  Lexington — Causes  of  the  American 
Revolution — Letter  to  Dr.  Priestley — Treacherous  conduct  of 
General  Gage— A  busy  old  man— Frugality  and  industry  be 
come  fashionable — Evidences  that  our  patriotic  fathers  looked 
to  God  for  help — Peyton  Randolph's  funeral — New  post-oftico 
arrangements— The  half-bound  folio  of  three  quires  of  paper 
• — Military  affairs — Franklin  serves  on  various  important  com 
mittees—Secret  correspondence  opened  with  friends  abroad 
— Commissioners  sent  to  Canada — Very  little  accomplished. 

TVHE  very  next  day  after  his  arrival  in  Phil 
adelphia,  Dr.  Franklin  was  chosen  by  the 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  a  delegate  to  the 
second  Continental  Congress,  which  was  to 
meet  on  the  10th  of  May,  1775.  Tidings  of 
the  conflict  at  Lexington  and  Concord  had 
thrown  the  whole  country  into  a  state  of  the 
greatest  agitation, — all  classes  seized  their 
arms,  and  the  war-cry  resounded  through  the 
land.  The  oppressed  Colonies  were  rising  up 
in  their  majesty  to  vindicate  their  rights.* 

*  When  the  late  President  Adams  was  minister  at  the  Court 
of  St.  James,  he  often  saw  his  countryman,  Benjamin  West, 
the  late  president  of  the  Royal  Academy.  One  day.  Mr.  West 


142  LIFT:  or  FKAXKLIX. 

Franklin  thus  refers  to  the  state  of  public 
affairs,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Priestley : 

"  Britain  has  begun  to  burn  our  seaport 
towns ;  secure,  I  suppose,  that  we  shall  never 
be  able  to  return  the  outrage  in  kind.  She 


nsked  his  friend  if  he  wished  to  take  a  walk  and  sec  the  cause 
of  the  American  Revolution.  The  minister  smiled  at  the  pro 
posal,  and  said  he  should  like  to  accompany  his  friend  West 
anywhere.  The  following  day  he  called,  according  to  agree 
ment,  and  took  Mr.  Adams  into  Hyde  Park  to  a  spot  near 
Serpentine  River,  where  he  gave  him  the  following  narrative: 

"  The  king  came  to  the  throne  a  young  man,  surrounded  by 
flattering  courtiers,  one  of  whose  frequent  topics  it  was  to  de 
claim  against  the  meanness  of  his  palace,  which  was  wholly  un 
worthy  a  monarch  of  such  a  country  as  England.  They  said 
there  was  not  a  sovereign  in  Europe  lodged  so  poorly;  that  his 
sorry,  dingy,  old  brick  palace  of  St.  James  looked  like  a  stable, 
and  that  he  ought  to  hold  a  palace  suited  to  his  kingdom.  The 
king  was  fond  of  architecture,  and  would  therefore  readily  lis 
ten  to  suggestions,  which  were  in  fact  all  true.  The  spot  that 
you  see  here  was  selected  for  the  site,  between  this  and  this 
point,  which  were  marked  out.  The  king  applied  to  his  minis 
ters  on  the  subject.  They  inquired  what  sum  would  be  wanted 
by  his  majesty,  who  said  that  he  would  begin  with  a  million. 
They  stated  the  expenses  of  the  war,  and  the  poverty  of  the 
treasury,  but  that  his  majesty's  wishes  should  be  taken  into 
full  consideration.  Some  time  afterwards  the  king  was  in 
formed  that  the  wants  of  the  treasury  were  too  urgent  to  admit 
of  a  supply  from  their  present  means,  but  that  a  revenue  might 
be  raised  in  America  to  supply  all  the  king's  wishes.  The  sug 
gestion  was  followed  up,  and  the  king  was  in  this  way  first  led 
to  consider  .and  then  to  consent  to  the  scheme  of  taxing  the 
Colonies." 


LETTER    TO    DR.    PRIESTLEY.  143 

may  doubtless  destroy  them  all;  but  if  she 
wishes  to  recover  our  commerce,  are  these  the 
probable  means  ?  She  must  certainly  be  dis 
tracted  ;  for  no  tradesman  out  of  Bedlam  ever 
thought  of  increasing  the  number  of  his  cus 
tomers  by  knocking  them  on  the  head,  or  of 
enabling  them  to  pay  their  debts  by  burning 
their  houses.  If  she  wishes  to  have  us  sub 
jects,  and  that  we  should  submit  to  her  as  our 
compound  sovereign,  she  is  now  giving  us 
such  miserable  specimens  of  her  government, 
that  we  shall  ever  detest  and  avoid  it,  as  a 
complication  of  robbery,  murder,  famine,  fire, 
and  pestilence. 

"  You  will  have  heard,  before  this  reaches 
you,  of  the  treacherous  conduct  of  General 
Gage  to  the  remaining  people  in  Boston,  in 
detaining  their  goods,  after  stipulating  to  let 
them  go  out  with  their  effects,  on  pretence 
that  merchants'  goods  were  not  effects ;  the 
defeat  of  a  great  body  of  his  troops  by  the 
country  people  at  Lexington  ;  some  other  small 
advantages  gained  in  skirmishes  with  their 
troops ;  and  the  action  at  Bunker's  Hill,  in 
which  they  were  twice  repulsed,  and  the  third 
time  gained  a  dear  victory.  Enough  has  hap 
pened,  one  would  think,  to  convince  your  min- 


144  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

isters  that  the  Americans  will  fight,  and  that 
this  is  a  harder  nut  to  crack  than  they  im 
agined. 

"  We  have  not  yet  applied  to  any  foreign 
power  for  assistance,  nor  offered  our  commerce 
for  their  friendship.  Perhaps  we  never  may; 
yet  it  is  natural  to  think  of  it,  if  wre  are  pressed. 
We  have  now  an  army  on  the  establishment, 
which  still  holds  yours  besieged.  My  time 
was  never  more  fully  employed.  In  the  morn 
ing,  at  six,  I  am  at  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
appointed  by  the  Assembly  to  put  the  prov 
ince  in  a  state  of  defence,  which  committee 
holds  till  near  nine,  when  I  am  at  the  Con 
gress,  and  that  sits  till  after  four  in  the  after 
noon.  Both  these  bodies  proceed  with  the 
greatest  unanimity,  and  their  meetings  are 
well  attended.  It  will  scarce  be  credited  in 
Britain  that  men  can  be  as  diligent  with  us 
from  zeal  for  the  public  good,  as  with  you  for 
thousands  per  annum.  Such  is  the  difference 
between  uncorrupted  new  states  and  corrupted 
old  ones. 

"  Great  frugality  and  great  industry  are 
now  become  fashionable  here.  Gentlemen 
who  used  to  entertain  with  two  or  three 
courses,  pride  themselves  now  in  treating 


PASSAGES    FROM    MARSHALL'S    DIARY.        145 

with  simple  beef  and  pudding.  By  these 
means,  and  the  stoppage  of  our  consumptive 
trade  with  Britain,  we  shall  be  better  able  to 
pay  our  voluntary  taxes  for  the  support  of  our 
troops.  Our  savings  in  the  article  of  trade 
amount  to  near  five  millions  sterling  per 
annum.'' 

The  blood  of  American  freemen  had  been 
shed  by  a  wanton  exercise  of  military  power, 
and  those  who  had  hitherto  been  hoping  that 
the  difficulties  with  the  mother  country  might 
yet  be  amicably  settled,  were  now  convinced 
that  political  independence  was  the  only  cure 
for  the  evils  under  which  the  colonies  so  long- 
had  suffered. 

We  observe  with  satisfaction  that  the  fathers 
of  the  Republic  were  men  who  feared  God. 
and  who  sought  for  His  help  and  blessing. 

In  "  Passages  from  the  Diary  of  Christopher 
Marshall,"  edited  by  Mr.  William  Dnane,  we 
find  many  incidental  references  which  bring 
this  fact  conspicuously  before  us.  Thus,  under 
date  of  May  11,  1775,  he  notes :  "  This  after 
noon  the  delegates  opened  the  Congress  at  the 
State  House;  began  with  prayer,  in  which 
officiated  Jacob  Duche." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  this  clergyman 


146  LIFE    OK    FKANKLIN. 

had  offered  the  first  prayer  in  Congress,  on  the 
7th  of  September,  1774,  when  the  appointed 
services  in  the  Prayer-book  proved  to  be  so 
wonderfully  appropriate  for  the  occasion.* 

Again :  Mr.  Marshall  writes  in  his  private 
journal  on  the  20th  of  July:  "This  being  the 
memorable  day  in  which  our  unjust  and  cruel 
ministry  took  away  all  our  sea-trade,  as  far  as 
their  inveterate  malice  could  reach,  the  shops 
shut,  most  families  attended  divine  worship. 
I  went  to  Christ  Church,  where  an  excellent 
sermon  was  preached  on  the  occasion  to  a 
crowded  auditory,  among  whom  were,  I  pre 
sume,  all  the  delegates.  It  was  an  awful  meet 
ing,  as  numbers  of  wet  eyes  demonstrated  their 
attention." 

On  the  22d  of  October,  Peyton  Kandolph, 
the  president  of  Congress,  died  of  apoplexy ; 
and  two  days  afterwards,  the  same  hand  makes 
note  that  the  delegates  went  to  Christ  Church, 
where  Mr.  Duche  preached,  and  then  all  fol 
lowed  the  remains  of  the  deceased  patriot  to 
the  grave  in  the  church  burial-ground. 

Dr.  Franklin  was  one  of  the  ruling  minds  in 


*  See  Lossing's  "Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,"  vol.  ii.,  p. 
267  ;  and  the  "Life  of  Washington,"  in  this  series. 


APPOINTED    POSTMASTER.  147 

Congress,  and  as  early  as  July,  1775,  he  had 
prepared  arid  presented  a  plan  of  confedera 
tion,  which  was  little  else,  in  fact,  than  a  dec 
laration  of  independence.  This  plan  was  pub 
lished  both  in  this  country  and  in  England, 
and  although  it  was  not  acted  upon  imme 
diately,  it  served  a  good  purpose  afterwards, 
when  the  members  of  Congress  were  ready  to 
consider  the  subject. 

As  the  post-office  establishment  had  been 
effectually  broken  up  by  the  disorders  of  the 
times,  a  new  one  was  erected,  and  Dr.  Frank 
lin  appointed  postmaster,  with  a  salary  of  a 
thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

"  In  the  general  post-office  at  Washington 
city,  I  saw,  several  years  ago,"  writes  Mr.  Los- 
sing,  "  Field-Book."  vol.  L,  p.  568,  "  the  book 
in  which  Franklin  kept  his  post-office  accounts. 
It  is  a  common,  half-bound  folio,  of  three  quires 
of  coarse  paper,  and  contained  all  the  entries 
for  nearly  two  years.  The  first  entry  was 
November  17,  1776.  Now  more  than  fifteen 
hundred  of  the  largest-sized  ledgers  are  re 
quired  annually  for  the  same  purpose;  the 
number  of  contractors  and  other  persons  hav 
ing  accounts  with  the  office  being  over  thirty 
thousand." 


148  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

During  several  months  the  attention  of 
Congress  was  principally  directed  to  military 
affairs,  and  in  the  measures  proposed  for  rais 
ing  and  equipping  an  army.  Franklin,  now  in 
his  sixty -ninth  year,  manifested  all  the  ardor 
and  activity  of  youth.  He  was  the  chairman 
of  several  important  committees,  and  his  good 
sense  seemed  to  be  ready  for  use  in  every 
emergency. 

After  George  Washington  had  received  the 
honorable  and  responsible  appointment  of 
commander-in-chief,  Dr.  Franklin,  Thomas 
Lynch,  and  Benjamin  Harrison  were  deputed 
by  Congress  to. proceed  to  the  camp  at  Cam 
bridge,  and  confer  with  him  on  the  best  mode 
of  recruiting  and  supporting  the  army.  They 
met  at  head-quarters,  on  the  18th  of  October, 
where  they  were  joined  by  delegates  from 
each  of  the  'New  England  governments.  The 
conference  lasted  several  days,  and  such  a 
system  was  matured  as  was  satisfactory  to 
General  Washington,  and  as  proved  effectual 
in  attaining  the  object. 

Some  time  before.  Dr.  Franklin  had  re 
ceived  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  ster 
ling,  sent  to  him  by  benevolent  persons  in 
England,  as  a  donation  for  the  relief  of  those 


DEVICE    OF    A    NATIONAL   SEAL.  149 

who  had  been  wounded  in  the  encounters 
with  the  British  troops,  on  the  day  of  their 
inarch  to  Lexington  and  Concord,  and  of  the 
widows  and  children  of  such  as  had  been  slain. 
While  he  was  in  the  camp  at  Cambridge,  he 
paid  this  money  over  to  a  committee  of  the 
Massachusetts  Assembly. 

During  his  absence,  the  Assembly  of  Penn 
sylvania  met,  and  by  the  returns  of  the  elec 
tion  it  appeared  that  he  had  been  chosen  a 
representative  for  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
He  was  now  a  member  of  three  public  bodies, 
which  convened  daily  for  business,  that  is  : 
Congress,  the  Assembly,  and  the  Committee  of 
Safety ;  but  he  usually  attended  in  Congress, 
whenever  the  times  of  meeting  interfered  with 
each  other. 

"  Ways  and  means  were  to  be  provided. 
Franklin  was  consulted.  The  marine  service 
was  to  be  regulated.  Franklin  again  was  in 
request.  Even  upon  the  device  of  a  national 
seal  he  was  engaged.  While  thus  employed, 
how  must  the  old  patriot's  thoughts  have  car 
ried  him  back  to  the  time  when,  fifty  years 
before,  he  was  contriving  ornaments  for  the 
New  Jersey  paper  money,  and  to  the  devices 
and  mottoes  which  he  furnished  for  the  Phila- 

18* 


150  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

delphia  Volunteers,  thirty  years  before  this 
period !  His  early  publications  on  paper 
money  must  also  have  recurred  to  him  while 
he  was  engaged  in  the  details  of  the  Continen 
tal  paper  money  issue.  It  is  to  be  noted  that, 
in  the  emission  of  the  money  which  after 
wards  so  sadly  depreciated,  the  advice  of 
Franklin  was  not  followed.  He  proposed  that 
the  bills  should  bear  interest ;  but  other  coun 
sel  ruled,  and  this  proposal  was  not  adopted. 
He  also  recommended,  after  the  first  emission, 
the  borrowing  of  the  bills  already  issued,  in 
stead  of  the  emission  of  a  further  sum.  He 
advised,  further,  the  payment  of  the  interest 
in  silver.  Neither  of  these  suggestions  was 
adopted  until  too  late  to  check  the  evil  which 
they  were  intended  to  obviate."* 

When  Congress  had  brought  the  affairs  of 
the  army  into  tolerable  order,  they  began  to 
think  of  foreign  alliances, — and  a  Committee 
of  Secret  Correspondence  was  appointed  to 
keep  up  an  intercourse  with  the  friends  of  the 
American  cause  in  various  parts  of  Europe. 
Dr.  Franklin  had  so  long  resided  abroad  that 
there  was  no  hesitation  in  making  him  the 

*  "Life  of  Franklin,"  by  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Weld 


A    COMMISSIONER    TO    CANADA. 


151 


leading  agent  in  these  important  negotiations, 
which  were  the  means  of  accomplishing  much 
good. 

Hopes  had  been  generally  entertained  that 
the  Canadians  might  be  persuaded  to  join  the 
other  Colonies  in  the  struggle  for  freedom, 
and  during  the  first  year  of  the  war,  while  the 
Americans  had  an  army  in  Canada,  there 
seemed  some  prospect  that  these  .hopes  would 
be  realized.  With  the  death  of  the  lamented 
Montgomery,  however,  adverse  fortune  began, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1776,  the  case  appeared 
almost  desperate.  Congress  then  determined 
to  send  commissioners  to  Canada,  who  should 
have  full  powers  to  regulate  the  operations  of 
the  army,  and  to  aid  the  people  in  forming  a 
civil  government. 

Dr.  Franklin,  Samuel  Chase,  and  Charles 
Carroll,  were  selected  for  the  purpose.  They 
left  Philadelphia  on  the  20th  of  March,  1776, 
accompanied  by  Mr.  John  Carroll,  a  Roman 
Catholic  clergyman  (afterwards  Archbishop 
of  Baltimore),  whose  French  education  and 
religious  profession  it  was  hoped,  would  give 
him  influence  with  the  priests  in  Canada,  and 
thus,  indirectly,  gain  the  good  will  of  the 
people. 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

The  dreadful  condition  of  the  roads  detained 
the  commissioners  so  long  on  the  way,  that 
the  American  army  was  in  full  retreat  from 
Quebec,  followed  by  an  enemy  superior  in 
numbers,  before  they  reached  Montreal. 

The  truth  is,  the  Canadians  were  not  ready 
to  enter  upon  the  hazardous  experiment  which 
the  other  Colonies  had  engaged  in  ;  and  the 
commissioners  found  it  useless  to  attempt  to 
inspire  them  with  the  love  of  freedom,  and  a 
spirit  of  enterprise,  which  were  foreign  to  the 
dispositions  of  most  of  them. 

Dr.  Franklin  reached  home  early  in  June, 
with  health  much  impaired  by  fatigue  and  ex 
posure.  Before  his  departure  for  Canada,  he 
had  withdrawn  from  the  Assembly  and  Com 
mittee  of  Safety,  not  knowing  how  long  he 
should  be  absent,  and  deeming  it  improper  to 
hold  public  stations  the  duties  of  which  he 
could  not  discharge.  In  his  letter  of  resign  a- 

o 

tion,  he  said  ;  "  I  am  extremely  sensible  of 
the  honor  done  me  by  my  fellow-citizens,  in 
choosing  me  their  representative  in  Assembly, 
and  of  that  lately  conferred  on  me  by  the 
House,  in  appointing  me  one  of  the  Commit 
tee  of  Safety  for  this  province,  and  a  delegate 
in  Congress.  It  would  be  a  happiness  to  me. 


TOO    OLD    TO    SE«VK.  153 

if  I  could  serve  the  public  duly  in  all  those 
stations  ;  but,  aged  as  I  now  am,  I  feel  myself 
unequal  to  so  much  business,  and  on  that  ac 
count  think  it  ray  duty  to  decline  a  part  of  it. 
I  hope,  therefore,  that  the  House  will  be  so 
good  as  to  accept  my  excuse  for  not  attending 
as  a  member  of  the  present  Assembly,  and,  if 
they  think  n't,  give  orders  for  the  election  of 
another   in    my  place,  that   the   city  may  be 
more  completely  represented.     I  request,  also, 
that  the  House  would  be  pleased  to  dispense 
with    my  further   attendance   as   one   of  the 
Committee  of  Safety."     On  his  return,  there 
fore,  he  was  at  liberty  to  give  his  undivided 
attention  to  the  national  counsels  in  Congress. 
He  was  chosen  a  member  of  one  of  the  com 
mittees,   which   assembled  in  June  from  the 
several  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  deliberating  on  the  mode  of  summon 
ing  a  convention  to  form  a  new  constitution ; 
but   the   conference    was    short,    and,    if    he 
attended  at  all,  he  took  little  part  in  the  pro 
ceedings.  , 


CHAPTER  THIRTEENTH. 

Ready  for  independence — Virginia  takes  the  first  decided  step 
— John  Dickinson  has  his  doubts — Arguments  answered— 
The  Declaration  drawn  up  and  signed — Anecdote  told  by  Mr. 
Jefferson—"  We  must  all  hang  together  !"— King  George  pro 
poses  to  pardon  his  rebel  subjects — The  two  Howes  come 
over  as  commissioners— Correspondence  with  Dr.  Franklin— 
The  game  of  chess— "They  ought  to  kiss  and  be  friends"— 
General  Sullivan  carries  a  message  to  Congress— One  more 
attempt  at  negotiations,  and  then  the  game  ends. 


M 


ATTEES  had  now  gone  so  far  that  a  large 
majority  of  the  American  people  were 
ready  to  declare  themselves  independent  of 
the  mother  country,  and  the  subject  was 
brought  before  Congress  in  due  form.  The 
Legislature  of  Virginia  having  instructed  their 
delegates  to  propose  it,  Richard  Henry  Lee 
had  the  honor  of  doing,  it,  and  an  animated 
debate  followed,  in  which  the  views  of  the 
more  prominent  members  were  freely  express 
ed.  While  the  larger  number  were  found 
prepared  to  take  a  decided  step  without  delay, 
some,  who  were  equally  patriotic,  believed 
that  the  time  had  not  yet  come.  Among  the 
latter  class  WHS  John  Dickinson,  a  Mury  lander 


DECLARATION    OK    INDKPKNDKNOE.  155 

by   birth,   but  at  this   time  a  delegate   from 
Pennsylvania.     He  had  written  and  done  so 
much  to  help  forward  the  great  struggle,  that 
even  his  friends  were  astonished  when  he  op 
posed  the  declaration  of  independence,  on  the 
ground  that  compromise  was  still  practicable, 
and  that  the  people  were  not  ripe  for  a  final 
separation  from  Great  Britain.     This  rendered 
him  so  unpopular  for  a  while,  that  he  with 
drew  from  the  public  councils,  and  did  not 
recover  his  seat  in  Congress  until  two  years 
afterwards.     He   then   returned,    earnest   and 
decided  in  the  cause  of  independence.     The 
arguments  of  the  doubting  members  were  so 
ably  met  by  such  men  as  John  Adams,  and 
Lee,  and  Franklin,  that  the  Declaration  was 
drawn  up,  and  after  three  days'  debate,  passed 
on  the  fourth  of  July,  1776  ;  from  which  time 
the  United  States  became,  in  fact,  an  independ 
ent  nation. 

Mr.  Jefferson  (who  is  generally  regarded  as 
the  author  of  this  famous  document),  relates  a 
characteristic  anecdote  of  Franklin  connected 
with  this  subject.  Being  annoyed  at  the  al 
terations  made  in  his  draft,  while  it  was  under 
discussion,  and  at  the  censures  freely  bestowed 
upon  parts  of  it,  he  began  to  fear  it  would  be 


156 


LIFE   OF    FRANKLIN. 


*  dissected    and   mangled    till    a   skeleton  only 
would  remain.     "I  was  sitting/'  lie  observes, 
"by  Dr.  Franklin,  who  perceived  that  I  was 
not  insensible  to  these  mutilations.     <  I  have 
made  it   a  rule,'   said   he,    'whenever  in   my 
power,   to   avoid   becoming  the  draftsman   of 
papers  to  be  reviewed  by  a  public  body.     I 
took  my  lesson  from  an  incident  which  I  will 
relate  to  you.     When   I  was    a  journeyman 
printer,  one  of  my  companions,  an  apprentice- 
hatter,  having  served  out  his  time,  was  about 
to  open  shop  for  himself.     His  first  concern 
was  to  have  a  handsome  sign  board,  with  a 
proper  inscription.     He  composed  it  in  these 
words,  John   Thompson,   Hatter,    makes   and 
sells  Hats  for  ready  money,  with  a  figure  of  a 
hat  subjoined.     But  he  thought  he  would  sub 
mit  it  to  his   friends   for  their  amendments. 
The  first  he  showed  it  to,  thought  the  word 
hatter  tautologous,  because   followed    by   the 
words  makes  hats,   which   showed   he  was  a 
hatter.    It  was  struck  out.    The  next  observed, 
that  the  word  makes  might  as  well  be  omit 
ted,  because  his  customers  would  not  care  who 
made  the  hats;    if  good  and   to   their  mind, 
they  would  buy,  by  whomsoever  made.     He 
struck  it  out.     A  third  said  he  thought  the 


ANECDOTE    OF   FRANKLIN. 


157 


words/or  ready  money  were  useless,  as  it  was 
not  the  custom  of  the  place  to  sell  on  credit. 
Every  one  who  purchased,  expected  to  pay. 
They  were  parted  with  ;  and  the  inscription 
now  stood,  John  Thompson  sells  hats. 
hats?"  says  his  next  friend;  "why,  nobody 
will  expect  you  to  give  them  away.  What 
then  is  the  use  of  that  word  ?"  It  was  stricken 
out,  and  hats  followed,  the  rather,  as  there 
was  one  painted  on  the  board.  So  his  inscrip 
tion  was  reduced  ultimately  to  John  Thomp 
son,  with  the  figure  of  a  hat  subjoined.' 

There  is  also  another  anecdote  related  of 
Franklin,  respecting  an  incident  which  took 
place  when  the  members  were  about  to  sign 
the  declaration.  "  We  must  be  unanimous," 
said  Hancock;  "there  must  be  no  pulling 
different  ways;  we  must  all  hang  together." 
"  Yes,"  replied  Franklin,  "  we  must,  indeed,  all 
hang  together,  or  most  assuredly  we  shall  all 
hang  separately." 

About  two  months  before  the  declaration  of 
independence,  Congress  had  recommended 
that  some  changes  should  be  made  in  the  sys 
tems  of  government  of  several  of  the  Colonies, 
and  delegates  from  the  counties  of  Pennsylva 
nia  met  together  to  form  a  new  constitution, 
14 


158 


LIFE    OF    FKANKLIN. 


Dr.  Franklin  was  chosen  president,  and  al 
though  occasionally  absent,  in  order  to  attend 
to  important  business  in  the  great  national 
assembly,  he  continued  to  preside  during  the 
two  months  that  the  convention  remained  in 
session.  It  is  not  known  what  part  he  took  in 
framing  the  constitution  of  Pennsylvania,  but 
he  certainly  was  not  unobservant  or  inactive. 

King  George  had  made  a  speech  at  the 
opening  of  Parliament,  in  which  he  spoke  of 
sending  out  commissioners  to  America,  with 
power  to  grant  pardons,  and  to  receive  the 
submission  of  his  repentant  subjects.  Poor, 
foolish  man !  little  did  he  imagine  how  thor 
oughly  the  affections  of  the  Colonies  had  been 
alienated  from  the  mother  country.  This  ap 
pearance  of  mildness  and  a  desire  for  peace, 
on  the  part  of  his  majesty,  was  entirely  con 
cealed  by  Lord  North's  Prohibitory  Bill,  for 
bidding  all  trade  and  intercourse  with  the 
Colonies. 

While  the  main  body  of  the  American  army 
under  Washington  was  stationed  at  New 
York,  in  the  spring  of  1776,  General  Howe 
arrived  there  with  a  large  number  of  British 
troops  from  Halifax,  and  was  soon  afterwards 
joined  by  his  brother,  Lord  Howe,  the  com- 


OPINION    OF    THE    BRITISH    MINISTRY.         159 

mancler  of  a  powerful  armament  fresh  from 
Europe.  The  two  brothers  were  the  commis 
sioners  appointed  by  the  king.  They  forth 
with  caused  the  will  of  his  gracious  majesty  to 
be  made  known  throughout  the  Colonies,  and 
Lord  Howe  wrote  a  private  and  friendly  letter 
to  Franklin,  expressing  great  respect  for  his 
character,  and  an  earnest  desire  that  the  un 
happy  differences  between  the  two  countries 
might  be  put  to  rest.  It  was  answered  by  the 
doctor  in  a  spirit  not  less  friendly  and  respect 
ful  ;  but,  in  regard  to  the  public  communica 
tions,  he  said,  he  was  sorry  to  find  them  of 
such  a  nature,  since  "it  must  give  his  lordship 
pain  to  be  sent  so  far  on  so  hopeless  a  busi 
ness."  After  some  other  remarks,  touching 
the  conduct  and  designs  of  the  ministry,  he 
added  : 

"Long  did  I  endeavor,  with  unfeigned  and 
unwearied  zeal,  to  preserve  from  breaking, 
that  fine  and  noble  china  vase,  the  British 
empire ;  for  I  knew,  that  being  once  broken, 
the  separate  parts  could  not  retain  even  their 
share  of  the  strength  or  value  that  existed  in 
the  whole,  and  that  a  perfect  reunion  of  those 
parts  could  scarce  ever  be  hoped  for.  Your 
lordship  may  possibly  remember  the  tears  of 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

joy  that  wet  ray  cheek,  when  at  your  good 
sister's  in  London,  you  once  gave  me  expecta 
tions  that  a  reconciliation  might  soon  take 
place.  I  had  the  misfortune  to  find  those  ex 
pectations  disappointed,  and  to  be  treated  as 
the  cause  of  the  mischief  I  was  laboring  to 
prevent.  My  consolation,  under  that  ground 
less  and  malevolent  treatment,  was  that  I  re 
tained  the  friendship  of  many  wise  and  good 
men  in  that  country,  and,  amongv  the  rest, 
some  share  in  the  regard  of  Lord  Howe."  The 
reference  in  Dr.  Franklin's  letter  to  his  ac 
quaintance  with  Lord  Howe's  sister,  calls  for 
a  few  words  of  explanation. 

The  American  statesman  and  philosopher 
was  a  great  admirer  of  chess,  and  among  his 
writings,  is  a  paper  on  ';  The  Morals  of  Chess," 
in  which  certain  Avise  rules  are  laid  down, 
which  will  answer  as  well  for  the  o^aine  of  life 

£3 

as  for  the  game  of  chess. 

While  Franklin  remained  in  England,  he 
was  approached  by  various  influential  persons, 
with  a  view  of  drawing  from  him  sonic  feasi 
ble  plan  by  which  the  political  disturbances 
of  the  times  might  be  settled.  His  well- 
known  skill  in  the  game  was  made  the  excuse 
for  introducing  him  to  a  certain  lady.  The 


KISS    AND    BE    FRIENDS.  161 

lady  proved  to  be -a  sister  of  Lord  Howe,  and 
Dr.  Franklin,  finding  her  of  "  very  sensible 
conversation  and  pleasing  behavior,"  agreed 
readily  to  renewed  appointments  to  try  her 
skill  at  chess,  though  at  this  time,  he  says,  he 
"  had  not  the  least  apprehension  that  any  po 
litical  business  could  have  any  connection 
with  this  new  acquaintance." 

At  the  second  meeting  with  the  lady,  which 
occurred  in  December,  1774,  she  found  a  new 
avenue  to  the  philosopher's  good  opinion,  by 
conversing  with  him  on  a  mathematical  prob 
lem.  Then  the  conversation  turned  from 
mathematics  to  the  Parliament  just  assembled. 

"  What,"  said  Mrs.  Howe,  "  is  to  be  done 
with  this  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and 
the  Colonies  ?  I  hope  we  are  not  to  have 
civil  war." 

"They  ought  to  kiss  and  be  friends,"  said 
the  doctor ;  "  what  can  they  do  better  ?  Quar 
relling  can  be  of  service  to  neither,  but  is  ruin 
to  both." 

"  I  have  said,"  replied  she,  "  that  I  wished 
government  would  employ  you  to  settle  the 
dispute  for  them — I  am  sure  nobody  could  do 
it  so  well.  Do  not  you  think  the  thing  is 
practicable  ?" 

u* 


162  LIFE   OP   FRANKLIN. 

"  Undoubtedly,  madam,  if  the  parties  are 
disposed  to  reconciliation;  for  the  two  coun 
tries  have  really  no  clashing  interests  to  differ 
about.  It  is  rather  a  matter  of  punctilio, 
which  two  or  three  reasonable  people  might 
settle  in  half  an  hour.  I  thank  you  for  the 
good  opinion  you  are  pleased  to  express  of  me, 
but  the  ministry  will  never  think  of  employ 
ing  me  in  that  good  work  ;  they  rather  choose 
to  abuse  me." 

"  Ay,"  said  she,  "  they  have  behaved  shame 
fully  to  you — and,  indeed,  some  of  them  are 
now  ashamed  of  it  themselves." 

Still,  so  much  was  Dr.  Franklin  in  the 
habit  of  conversing,  with  different  persons, 
about  America  and  its  affairs,  he  thought  this 
but  an  incidental  conversation. 

At  the  next  interview,  which  was  on  Christ 
mas  evening,  Mrs.  Howe  desired  permission  of 
him  to  send  for  her  brother,  Lord  Howe,  who, 
she  stated,  desired  his  acquaintance,  adding 
that  "  he  was  just  by." 

The  doctor's  eyes  must,  by  this  time,  have 
been  opened  to  these  designed  accidents,  par 
ticularly  when,  after  a  long  conversation  011 
American  affairs,  Lord  Howe  desired  him  to 
draw  up  some  propositions,  embodying  the 


163 

terms  on  which  he  conceived  a  good  under 
standing  between  the  countries  might  be  ob- 
.tained  and  established.  These  propositions, 
Lord  Howe  said,  they  might  meet  to  consider 
either  at  his  house,  or  at  Franklin's,  or  where 
the  doctor  pleased.  But  as  Franklin's  visiting 
Lord  Howe,  or  Lord  Howe's  visiting  Franklin 
might,  Lord  Howe  thought,  occasion  some 
speculation,  it  was  concluded  to  be  best  to 
meet  at  his  sister's,  where  there  was  a  good 
pretence,  with  her  family  and  friends,  for  his 
being  often  seen,  as  it  was  known  they  played 
together  at  chess. 

She  "  readily  offered  her  house  for  that  pur 
pose."  It  is  evident,  from  the  circumstances, 
that  such  was  the  intention  from  the  begin 
ning.  Ladies  have  often  lent  their  houses  for 
political  purposes.  None  appear  to  have 
done  it  with  better  motives  than  the  Hon. 
Mrs.  Howe.  Franklin  has  left  this  record  of 
her,  that  he  would  have  no  secrets  in  a  busi 
ness  of  the  nature  of  that  in  which  he  was 
engaged,  which  he  would  not  confide  in  her 
prudence;  for  he  "had  never  conceived  a 
higher  opinion  of  the  discretion  and  excellent 
understanding  of  any  woman  on  so  short  an 
acquaintance."  And  her  residence  was  ac- 


104  LIFE   OF    FRANKLIN. 

cordingly  used  as  the  place  of  conference 
while  the  consultations  with  Lord  Howe  con 
tinued.  The  messages  of  'Franklin  and  of 
Lord  Howe,  when  written,  passed  through  her 
hands,  and  when  simply  oral,  were  communi 
cated  by  her. 

All  these  various  interviews  and  arrange 
ments  proved  fruitless  in  the  end,  and  we 
have  only  said  thus  much  concerning  them, 
that  our  readers  might  understand  why  Lord 
Howe  was  disposed  to  be  on  such  friendly 
terms  writh  Dr.  Franklin. 

General  Sullivan  having  been  taken  pris 
oner  in  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  was  carried 
on  board  Lord  Howe's  ship,  and  then  set  at 
liberty,  on  parole,  bearing  from  his  lordship 
an  oral  message  to  Congress,  in  which  the  de 
sire  was  expressed  that  some  of  the  members 
of  that  body  might  be  appointed  to  hold  a 
private  interview  with  him.  Dr.  Franklin, 
John  Adams,  and  Edward  Rutledge-  were  se 
lected  for  the  purpose.  The  interview  took 
place  accordingly,  but  nothing  was  accom 
plished  by  it,  and  thus  ended  the  labors  of 
the  commissioners,  so  far  as  his  majesty's  plan 
for  receiving  the  acknowledgments  of  the 
rebels  was  concerned. 


CHAPTER    FOURTEENTH. 

Proposing  an  alliance  with  France  —  Three  commissioners  ap 
pointed  —  Dr.  Franklin  and  his  grandsons—  Keception  by  the 
French  —  Takes  lodgings  at  Passy  —  The  venerable  man  — 
Honors  paid  to  him—  First  interview  of  the  commissioners 
with  the  French  minister—  Kindness  in  secret—  Bolder  meas 
ures  follow—  England  indignant—  The  old  enemies  at  war- 
America  neither  to  be  dragooned  nor  bamboozled  —  Sharp 
points  and  blunt  ones-  —  Reception  at  court  —  Anecdotes  —  De 
scription  of  Franklin  by  a  German  historian  —  "One  Benny 
Franklin  worth  two  kings  !" 


rPHE  American  States  being  now  an  inde- 
JL  pendent  power,  it  was  very  proper  that 
they  should  assume  this  character  in  relation 
to  other  governments.  Moreover,  as  they 
greatly  needed  means  for  carrying  on  the  war 
with  Britain,  and  were  able  to  offer  a  profita 
ble  commerce  to  those  who  would  aid  them 
with  loans  of  money,  they  could  hardly  be  con 
sidered  as  begging  for  help,  when  an  arrange 
ment,  thus  mutually  advantageous,  was  pro 
posed.  The  subject  was  discussed  in  Congress, 
and  three  commissioners  were  appointed  to 
proceed  to  France,  and  make  an  application 
of  the  kind  we  have  mentioned.  Dr.  Frank- 


166  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

lin,  Silas  Dean,  and  Arthur  Lee  were  selected 
for  this  important  mission. 

Franklin  left  Philadelphia  on  the  26th  of 
October,  1Y76,  accompanied  by  his  two  grand 
sons,  William  Temple  Franklin,  and  Benja 
min  Franklin  Bache. 

Although  the  ship  in  which  they  sailed  was 
sometimes  chased  by  British  cruisers,  they 
reached  Nantes  on  the  7th  of  December,  and 
having  tarried  a  few  days  to  recruit,  they 
arrived  at  Paris  on  the  21st. 

Dr.  Franklin's  visit  to  France  was  quite 
unexpected,  but  it  was  generally  supposed 
that  he  had  come  on  important  public  busi 
ness,  and  the  friends  of  American  liberty 
greeted  him  with  lively  expressions  of  joy. 
The  report  of  his  arrival  was  soon  circulated 
throughout  Europe ;  and  there  were  few  who 
did  not  know  the  name  of  the  distinguished 
philosopher,  or  who  had  not  read  some  pro 
ductions  of  his  pen. 

He  soon  removed  from  Paris  to  Passy,  a 
pleasant  village  about  three  miles  off,  and 
took  lodgings  in  a  house  *  belonging  to  M. 

*A  modern  traveller  remarks  that  "the  hotel  which  Dr. 
Franklin  o«cupied  during  his  mission  at  the  court  of  Louis 
XVI.,  remains  still  in  existence,  although  it  has  undergone 


FIRST   LIGHTNING- ROD.  167 

Leroy  de  Chaumont,  a  zealous  friend  to  the 
American  cause,  and  here  he  continued  to 
reside  until  his  final  departure  from  France. 

A  French  historian  speaks  of  the  distin 
guished  stranger  in  these  glowing  words : 

"  By  the  effect  which  Franklin  produced  in 
France,  one  might  say  that  he  fulfilled  his 
mission,  not  with  a  court,  but  with  a  free 
people.  Diplomatic  etiquette  did  not  permit 
him  often  to  hold  interviews  with  the  minis 
ters,  but  he  associated  with  the  distinguished 
personages  who  directed  public  opinion.  Men 
imagined  they  saw  in  him  a  sage  of  antiquity, 
come  back  to  give  austere  lessons  and  gener 
ous  examples  to  the  moderns.  They  personi- 

many  changes  and  alterations,  since  the  day  when,  within  its 
walls,  our  Minister  to  France  pondered  over  the  critical  position 
•  of  American  affairs,  and  matured  those  wise  plans  which  re 
sulted  in  securing  to  America  the  alliance  of  the  French,  and 
in  insuring  and  hastening  her  ultimate  independence.  The 
building  is  situated  in  Passy. 

"  The  first  lightning-rod  which  was  ever  erected  in  France,  and 
which  was  placed  upon  this  house  by  Franklin  himself,  is  still 
shown  to  visitors,  and  is  very  similar  in  appearance  to  those 
now  in  use.  In  a  rear  apartment  of  the  building  is  preserved 
all  the  wood-work  of  Franklin's  grand  saloon.  Doors,  panels, 
and  window  frames  in  considerable  numbers  sho\v  that  the  sa 
loon  must  have  been  of  large  dimensions,  and  the  elaborate 
wood-carvings  and  the  profusion  of  gilding  indicate  that  it  was 
sumptuously  adorned." 


168  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

fied  in  him  the  republic,  of  which  he  was  the 
representative  and  the  legislator. 

"  They  regarded  his  virtues  as  those  of  his 
countrymen,  and  even  judged  of  their  physi 
ognomy  by  the  imposing  and  serene  traits  of 
his  own.  Happy  was  he  who  could  gain  ad 
mittance  to  see  him  in  the  house  which  he  oc 
cupied  at  Passy.  This  venerable  old  man,  it 
was  said,  joined  to  the  demeanor  of  Phocion 
the  spirit  of  Socrates.  Courtiers  were  struck 
with  his  native  dignity,  and  discovered  in  him 
the  profound  statesman.  Young  officers,  im 
patient  to  signalize  themselves  in  another  hem 
isphere,  came  to  interrogate  him  respecting 
the  military  condition  of  the  Americans ;  and 
when  he  spoke  to  them  with  deep  concern  and 
a  manly  frankness  of  the  recent  defeats  which 
had  put  his  country  in  jeopardy,  this  only  ex 
cited  in  them  a  more  ardent  desire  to  join  and 
assist  the  republican  soldiers. 

"After  this  picture,  it  would  be  useless  to 
trace  the  history"  of  Franklin's  negotiations 
with  the  court  of  France.  His  virtues  and 
his  renown  negotiated  for  him  ;  and  before  the 
second  year  of  his  mission  had  expired,  no  one 
conceived  it  possible  to  refuse  fleets  and  an 
army  to  the  compatriots  of  Franklin." 


COUNT    DE    VERGENNES.  169 

Portraits  of  the  American  philosopher  were 
everywhere  to  be  seen,  and  vast  numbers  of 
medallions  were  sold,  on  which  his  head  had 
been  represented,  as  an  ornament  for  snuff 
boxes,  or  to  be  set  in  rings  and  bracelets. 

Congress  had  furnished  the  commissioners 
with  the  plan  for  a  treaty  of  commerce,  which 
they  .were  to  propose  to  the  French  govern 
ment;  and  besides  this  they  were  to  obtain 
from  that  court,  at  the  expense  of  the  United 
States,  eight  ships  of  war,  ready  for  service, 
and  to  procure  and  forward  military  stores. 

On  the  28th  of  December  they  were  ad 
mitted  to  an  audience  with  the  Count  de  Ver- 
gennes,  the  minister  of  foreign  affairs ;  and 
although  the  friendly  relations  then  existing 
between  France  and  England  made  it  improp 
er  for  him  to  say,  in  so  many  words,  that  the 
application  of  the  rebellious  Colonies  should 
be  granted,  the  reception  was  very  gracious, 
and  the  assurances  given  most  encouraging. 

We  have  not  space  to  record  all  the  steps 
which  were  taken  before  the  French  govern 
ment  came  out  decidedly  as  the  ally  of-  the 
United  States.  It  is  enough  to  say  that 
France  had  resolved  to  help  the  Americans, 
and  at  first  large  sums  were  secretly  advanced 

15 


LIFE    OF   FKANKLIN. 


for  this  purpose ;  but  after  the  capture  of  Bur- 
go  jne's  army,  affairs  began  to  brighten,  and 
on  the  6th  of  February,  1778,  a  treaty  of  alli 
ance  was  made  with  the  new  republic.  We 
need  not  relate  how  much  joy  tidings  of  this 
event  brought  to  those  brave  men  who  were 
fighting  the  battles  of  their  country.  Wash 
ington  appointed  a  day  of  thanksgiving  and 
rejoicing  amid  all  the  discomforts  of  the  army 
at  Yalley  Forge. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  the  American  com 
missioners  were  introduced  to  the  king  at 
Versailles,  and  a  French  writer  thus  describes 
the  ceremony : 

Dr.  Franklin,"  he  says,  "  was  accompanied 
and  followed  by  a  great  number  of  Americans, 
and  individuals  from  various  countries,  whom 
curiosity  had  drawn  together.  His  age,  his 
venerable  aspect,  the  simplicity  of  his  dress, 
every  thing  fortunate  and  remarkable  in  the 
life  of  this  American,  contributed  to  excite 
public  attention.  The  clapping  of  hands  and 
other  expressions  of  joy  indicated  that  warmth 
of  enthusiasm  of  which  the  French  are  more 
susceptible  than  any  other  people,  and  the 
charm  of  which  is  enhanced  to  the  object  of  it 
by  their  politeness  and  agreeable  manners. 


171 

After  this  audience,  lie  crossed  the  court  on 
his  way  to  the  office  of  the  minister  of  foreign 
affairs.  The  multitude  waited  for  him  in  the 
passage,  and  greeted  him  with  their  acclama 
tions.  He  met  with  a  similar  reception  wher 
ever  he  appeared  in  Paris." 

From  that  time  both  Franklin  and  the  other 
American  commissioners  attended  the-  court  at 
Versailles,  on  the  same  footing  as  the  ambas 
sadors  of  the  European  powers.  Madame 
Campan  says  that,  on  these  occasions,  Frank 
lin  appeared  in  the  dress  of  an  American  far 
mer.  "His  straight,  unpowdered  hair,  his 
round  hat,  his  brown  cloth  coat,  formed  a  sin 
gular  contrast  with  the  laced  and  embroidered 
coats,  and  powdered  and  perfumed  heads,  of 
the  courtiers  of  Versailles." 

The  rules  of  diplomatic  etiquette  did  not 
permit  the  ambassadors  of  those  sovereigns 
who  had  not  recognized  the  independence  of 
the  United  States  to  extend  any  official  civili 
ties  to  the  ministers  of  the  new  republic.  In 
private,  however,  they  sought  the  acquaint 
ance  and  society  of  Franklin,  and  among 
them  were  some  of  his  most  esteemed  and 
intimate  friends.  An  amusing  incident,  illus 
trative  of  the  reserve  of  the  ambassadors  in 


172  LIFE   OF   FRANKLIN. 

their  official  character  occurred  to  Dr.  Frank 
lin  some  time  after  he  became  minister  pleni 
potentiary.  The  son  of  the  empress  of  Russia, 
under  the  title  of  Count  du  Nord,  arrived  in 
Paris.  He  sent  round  his  cards  to  the  several 
foreign  ambassadors,  with  his  name  and  that 
of  the  Prince  Bariatinski,  the  Russian  ambas 
sador,  written  upon  them.  By  some  accident 
the  messenger  left  one  of  these  cards  at  Dr. 
Franklin's  house.  As  this  was  the  first  in 
stance  of  the  kind,  he  knew  not  precisely  in 
what  manner  the  civility  was  to  be  returned. 
He  inquired  of  an  old  minister  at  court,  well 
versed  in  the  rules  of  etiquette,  who  told  him 
that  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  stop  his  carriage 
at  the  ambassador's  door,  and  order  his  name 
to  be  written  in  the  porter's  book.  This  cere 
mony  he  performed  accordingly.  "I  thought 
no  more  of  the  matter,"  said  he,  "  till  the  ser 
vant  who  brought  the  card  came  in  great 
affliction,  saying  he  was  like  to  be  ruined,  and 
wishing  to  obtain  from  me  a  paper  of  I  know 
not  what  kind,  for  I  did  not  see  him.  In  the 
afternoon  came  my  friend  M.  Le  Roy,  who 
is  also  a  friend  of  the  prince's,  telling  me  how 
much  he  (the  prince)  was  concerned  at  the 
accident ;  that  both  himself  and  the  count  had 


THE   TWO    OLD   ENEMIES    AT   WAR.  173 

great  personal  regard  for  me  and  my  charac 
ter,  but  that  our  independence  not  yet  being 
acknowledged  by  the  court  of  Russia,  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  permit  himself  to  make 
me  a  visit  as  minister.  I  told  M.  Le  Roy 
it  was  not  my  custom  to  seek  such  honors, 
though  I  was  very  sensible  of  them  when  con 
ferred  upon  me ;  that  I  should  not  have  vol 
untarily  intruded  a  visit,  and  that,  in  this 
case,  I  had  only  done  what  I  was  informed 
the  etiquette  required  of  me ;  but  if  it  would 
be  attended  with  any  inconvenience  to  Prince 
Bariatinski,  whom  I  much  esteemed  and  re 
spected,  I  thought  the  remedy  was  easy ;  he 
had  only  to  erase  my  name  out  of  his  book  of 
visits  received,  and  I  would  burn  their  card." 

Of  course  England  was  highly  indignant 
th'at  France  should  espouse  the  cause  of  the 
Colonies,  and  the  result  was  that  the  two  old 
enemies  were  soon  at  war  again. 

Meanwhile,  the  British  ministry  being  now 
seriously  alarmed  about  the  result  of  the 
American  war,  employed  secret  emissaries  to 
sound  Dr.  Franklin  as  to  the  terms  on  which 
a  reconciliation  of  the  Colonies  could  be  ef 
fected.  He,  however,  ridiculed  the  idea  of 
any  treaty  with  the  mother  country  except  on 


TJFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


the  basis  of  independence;  and  exclaimed 
with  warmth.  "The  Americans  are  neither 
to  be  dragooned  nor  bamboozled  out  of  their 
liberty!" 

The  tone  of  his  letters  shows  that  he  had 
got  pretty  much   out   of  patience  with  King 
George  and  his  cabinet.     Thus,  in  writing  to  a 
friend,  who  had  informed  him  that  i\&  pointed 
conductors  which  had  been  erected  to  protect 
the  royal  powder  magazines,  from  lightning, 
had  been  exchanged  by  some  £tubborn~English 
philosopher,  for  blunt  ones—  out  of  a  spirit  of 
jealous  opposition  to  him,  he  quietly  remarks: 
"  I  have  never  entered  into  any  controversy  in 
defence  of  my  philosophical  opinions  :  I  leave 
them  to  take   their  chance  in  the  world.     If 
they  are  right,  truth  and  experience  will  sup 
port  them  ;  if  wrong,  they  ought  to  be  refuted 
and  rejected.     Disputes  are  apt  to  sour  one's 
temper^  and   disturb   one's  quiet.     I  have  no 
private  interest  in  the  reception  of  my  inven 
tions  by  the  world,  having  never  made,  nor 
proposed  to  make,  the  least  profit  by  any  of 
them.     The  king's  changing  his  pointed  con 
ductors  for  blunt  ones  is,  therefore,  a  matter  of 
small  importance   to    me.     If  I   had   a  wish 
about  it,   it  would   be   that  he  had  rejected 


AT  THE  FRENCH  COURT.         175 

them  altogether  as  ineffectual.  For  it  is  only 
since  he  thought  himself  and  family  safe  from 
the  thunder  of  heaven,  that  he  dared  to  use 
his  own  thunder  in  destroying  his  innocent 
subjects."* 

We  close  the  chapter  with  a  description  of 
Dr.  Franljin  at  the  French  court,  by  a  Ger 
man  historian,  Schlosser  of  Heidelberg. 

"  Franklin's  appearance  in  the  Paris  salons, 
even  before  he  was  presented  at  court  or  be 
gan  to  negotiate,  otherwise  than  through  third 
parties,  with  the  minister,  was  an  event  of 
great  importance  to  the  whole  of  Europe. 
Paris,  at  that  time,  set  the  fashion  for  the  en 
tire  civilized  world  in  Europe,  and  the  admi 
ration  of  Franklin,  carried  to  a  degree  ap 
proaching  folly,  produced  a  remarkable  effect 
on  the  fashionable  circles  of  Paris.  His  dress, 
the  simplicity  of  his  external  appearance,  the 


*  An  English  epigram  was  published  on  Franklin,  alluding 
to  Sir  Joseph  Banks  and  the  trick  by  which  he  made  himself, 
with  the  influence  of  George  III.,  president  of  the  Eoyal  Society. 
"While  you,  great  George,  for  safety  hunt. 
And  sharp  conductors  change  for  blunt, 
The  empire's  out  of  joint: 
Franklin  a  wiser  course  pursues, 
And  all  your  thunder  fearless  views, 
By  keeping  to  the  point." 


170  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

friendly  meekness  of  the  old  man,  and  the  ap 
parent  humility  of  the  Quaker,  procured  for 
Freedom  a  mass  of  votaries  among  the  court 
circles  who  used  to  be  alarmed  at  its  coarse 
ness  and  unsophisticated  truths. 

"  Franklin  neither  mistook  himself  nor  the 
people  with  whom  he  had  to  deal.  He  knew 
mankind  thoroughly,  and  was  well  aware  how 
to  use  the  Paris  admiration  of  himself,  and 
how  to  deal  with  the  salons.  In  his  private 
correspondence  he  describes  the  life  in  Paris 
and  the  intense  worship  which  he  received  on 
all  hands,  in  a  comical,  though  masterly  style. 
But  as  an  American  merchant,  he  took  every 
advantage  that  a  skilful  dealer  would  derive 
from  the  fascination  of  his  customers.  If  we 
compare  the  descriptions  given  by  Lacratelle, 
Lafayette,  Segur,  and  others,  of  the  noise  made 
by  Franklin,  with  the  private  letters  which  he 
wrote  himself  from  Passy  to  America,  we  shall 
see  what  miserable  bunglers  in  diplomacy  the 
most  adroit  of  the  Parisians  were,  when  com 
pared  with  the  old  printer.  They  were  led  by 
long  practice  in  it  as  an  art  or  science ;  he  fol 
lowed  nature  and  his  own  instincts,  which 
were  never  wrong  and  were  never  exagger 
ated. 


AUTOGRAPH.  177 

"  Nevertheless,  so  long  as  the  war  in  Amer 
ica  was  not  successful,  he  found  that  his  nego 
tiations  made  but  slow  and  halting  progress."* 


*  Dr.  Sprague,  of  Albany,  who  has  collected  a  great  number 
of  autographs,  made  application,  some  time  since,  to  a  certain 
gentleman  for  that  of  Dr.  Franklin.  "  Oh  you  have  one  al 
ready,"  said  the  person  referred  to.  "  No  matter,"  replied  the 
determined  collector.  "I  want  it  for  exchange.  One  Benny 
Franklin  in  Europe  is  worth  two  kings  /" 

This  is  one  of  the  happiest  compliments  ever  paid  to  the 
Boston  printer's  boy. 


CHAPTEE  FIFTEENTH. 

Philadelphia  taken  by  the  British — Franklin's  house  robbed 

Another  source  of  trouble— William  Franklin,  the  tory— 
Sketch  of  his  career — Obtuseness  of  feeling— Matter-of-fact 
letter  on  his  mother's  death — Dr.  Franklin's  distress  at  the 
course  pursued  by  his  son — Mention  made  of  him  in  his  will 
—Lessons  in  French — Applauding  in  the  wrong  place—"  The 
spectators  do  not  pay  !"— Elkanah  Watson's  recollections  of 
Franklin— French  dinner-party — Franklin's  portrait  in  high 
company — Playing  on  the  armonica — Weighing  the  chances 
of  war — Ecstasy  of  joy — Paris  illuminated. 

WHILE  Dr.  Franklin   and  his   colleagues 
are    attending    to   public    business    at 
Paris,  some  things  are  taking  place  in  Amer 
ica,  in  which  he  will  feel  some  interest  when 
he  hears  of  them. 

.Congress  had  continued  to  sit  in  Philadel 
phia  until  the  autumn  of  1776,  when  the  ap 
proach  of  the  enemy  obliged  them  to  retire  to 
Baltimore.  The  British  troops  took  possession 
of  the  city  on  the  26th  of  September,  1777, 
and  they  remained  there  until  the  18th  of 
June,  in  the  following  year.* 

*  Those  interested  in  such  things  will  find  some  curious  in 
formation  about  the  occupation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British, 
in  Watson's  Annals,  vol.  ii.,  p.  287. 


LETTER    FROM    MRS.    BACHE.  179 

Mrs.  Baclie,  daughter  of  Dr.  Franklin,  oc 
cupied  his  house  when  the  enemy  approached 
Philadelphia.  She  left  the  city,  and  took 
refuge  with  a  friend  in  the  country.  After 
her  return  in  July,  she  thus  wrote  to  her  fa 
ther.  The  reference  to  Andre,  who  afterwards 
played  so  conspicuous  a  part  in  the  treasona 
ble  plots  of  Arnold,  adds  to  the  interest  of  the 
letter.  "  I  found  your  house  and  furniture 
upon  my  return  to  town,  in  much  better  order 
than  I  had  any  reason  to  expect  from  the 
hands  of  sitch  a  rapacious  crew ;  they  stole 
and  carried  off  with  them  some  of  your  musi 
cal  instruments  ;  viz.,  a  Welsh  harp,  ball  harp, 
the  set  of  tuned  bells  which  were  in  a  box, 
viol-de-gambs,  all  the  spare  armomca  glasses, 
and  one  or  two  spare  cases  ;  your  armonica  is 
safe.  They  took,  likewise,  the  few  books  that 
were  left  behind,  the  chief  of  which  were 
Temple's  school-books,  and  the  history  of  the 
arts  and  sciences  in  French,  which  is  a  great 
loss  to  the  public ;  some  of  your  electric  ap 
paratus  is  missing  also.  A  Captain  Andre 
also  took  with  him  the  picture  of  you  which 
hung  in  the  dining-room.  The  rest  of  the 
pictures  are  safe,  and  met  with  no  damage, 
except  the  frame  of  Alfred,  which  is  broke  to 


180  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

pieces ;  in  short,  considering  the  hurry  in 
which  we  were  obliged  to  leave  the  town,  Snl- 
ly's  then  situation,  and  the  number  of  things 
we  consequently  left  behind,  we  are  much 
better  off  than  I  had  any  reason  to  expect." 

But  Dr.  Franklin  had  another  source  of 
trouble  which  weighed  upon  him  much  more 
heavily,  than  the  mere  loss  of  property.  I 
refer  to  the  course  pursued  by  his  son  with 
reference  to  the  quarrel  between  the  Colonies 
and  the  mother  country.  It  is  hard  to  realize 
that  any  member  of  Dr.  Franklin's  family 
could  have  been  a  tory. 

William,  his  only  son,  was  born  in  1731. 
He  was  postmaster  of  Philadelphia  for  a  short 
time,  and  served  as  clerk  of  the  House  of  Rep 
resentatives  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  also  a 
captain  in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  and 
fought  bravely  under  Abercrombie,  at  Ticon- 
deroga.  Towards  the  close  of  that  war,  he 
visited  England  with  his  father,  and  through 
the  influence  of  the  Earl  of  Bute  and  Lord 
Fairfax,  he  received  the  appointment  of  gov 
ernor  of  New  Jersey. 

William  Franklin  is  the  "Billy"  so  often 
spoken  of  in  Mrs.  Franklin's  letters  to  her 
husband.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  plain, 


LETTER   FROM    HIS    SON.  181 

honest,  business-like  sort  of  young  man,  but 
apparently  somewhat  obtuse  in  matters  of  feel 
ing.  The  following  account  of  his  mother's 
funeral  says  little  for  his  heart  or  his  fancy. 
The  hint  that  his  father's  non-arrival  may  have 
hastened  her  death,  is  evidently  nothing  but  a 
piece  of  clumsy  blundering. 

"HON'D  FATHER: — I  came  here  on  Thurs 
day  last  to  attend  the  funeral  of  my  poor  old 
mother,  who  died  the  Monday  noon  preceding. 
Mr.  Bache  sent  his  clerk  express  to  me  on  the 
occasion,  who  reached  Amboy  on  Tuesday 
evening,  and  I  set  out  early  the  next  morning, 
but  the  weather  being  very  severe  and  snow 
ing  hard,  I  was  not  able  to  reach  here  till 
about  four  o'clock  on  Thursday  afternoon, 
about  half  an  hour  before  the  corpse  was  to 
be  moved  for  interment.  Mr.  Bache  and  I 
followed  as  chief  mourners  ;  your  old  friend 
H.  Roberts  and  several  other  of  your  friends 
were  carriers,  and  a  very  respectable  number 
of  the  inhabitants  were  at  the  funeral.  I  don't 
mention  the  particulars  of  her  illness,  as  you 
will  have  a  much  fuller  account  from  Mr. 
Bache  than  I  am  able  to  give.  Her  death 
was  no  more  than  might  be  reasonably  expect 
ed  after  the  paralytic  stroke  she  received  some 

16 


182  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

time  ago,  which  greatly  affected  her  "memory 
and  understanding.  She  told  me  when  I  took 
leave  of  her  on  my  removal  to  Amboy,  that 
she  never  expected  to  see  you  unless  you  re 
turned  this  winter,  for  that  she  was  sure  she 
should  not  live  till  next  summer.  I  heartily 
wish  you  had  happened  to  have  come  over  in 
the  fall,  as  I  think  her  disappointment  in  that 
respect  preyed  a  good  deal  on  her  spirits." 

When  the  difficulties  between  England  and 
the  Colonies  were  coming  to  a  crisis,  William 
Franklin  threw  his  whole  influence  in  favor  of 
loyalty,  and  endeavored  to  prevent  the  legisla 
tive  assembly  of  Kew  Jersey  from  sanctioning 
the  proceedings  of  the  General  Congress  at 
Philadelphia.  The  efforts,  however,  did  but 
little  to  stay  the  tide  of  popular  sentiment  in 
favor  of  resistance  to  tyranny,  and  soon  in 
volved  him  in  difficulty.  He  was  deposed 
from  office  by  the  whigs  to  give  place  to  Wil 
liam  Livingston,  and  sent  a  prisoner  to  Con 
necticut,  where  he  remained  about  two  years 
in  East  Windsor,  in  the  house  of  Captain 
Ebenezer  Grant,  near  where  the  Theological 
Seminary  now  stands.  In  1778  he  was  ex-, 
changed,  and  soon  after  went  to  England. 
There  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  re- 


FEELINGS    TOWARDS    HIS    SON.  183 

ceiving  a-pension  from  the  British  government 
for  the  losses  he  had  sustained  by  his  fidelity. 
He  died  in  1812,  at  the  age  of  82. 

As  might  be  expected,  his  opposition  to  the 
cause  of  liberty,  so  dear  to  the  heart  of  his 
father,  produced  an  estrangement  between 
them.  For  years  they  had  no  intercourse. 
When,  in  1784:,  the  son  wrote  to  his  father,  in 
his  reply,  Dr.  Franklin  says,  "Nothing  has 
ever  hurt  me  so  much,  and  affected  me  with 
such  keen  sensations,  as  to  find  myself  desert 
ed  in  my  old  age  by  my  only  son  ;  and  not 
only  deserted,  but  to  find  him  taking  up  arms 
against  me  in  a  cause  wherein  my  good  fame,, 
fortune,  and  all  were  at  stake."  In  his  will 
also,  he  alludes  to  the  part  his  son  acted. 
After  making  him* some  bequests,  he  adds: 
"  The  part  he  acted  against  me  in  the  last  war, 
which  is  of  public  notoriety,  will  account  for 
my  leaving  him  no  more  of  an  estate  he  en 
deavored  to  deprive  me  of."  The  patriotism 
of  the  father  stands  forth  all  the  brighter  when 
contrasted  with  the  desertion  of  the  son. 

But  to  return  from  this  digression. 

Franklin  spoke  French  but  indifferently, 
and  his  pronunciation  was  defective,  although 
he  could  read  it  very  well.  He  told  John 


LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

Adams  that  he  was  wholjy  inattentive  to  the 
grammar.  Madame  Geoffrin,  to  whom,  in  his 
visit  to  France,  in  1767  or  1769,  he  brought  a 
letter  from  David  Hume,  reported  that  she 
could  not  initiate  him  into  the  language. 
Notwithstanding  his  advanced  age  when  he 
established  himself  at  Passy,  he  lived  to  make 
a  great  improvement  in  speaking  French,  and 
to  enjoy  it  perfectly  in  the  hearing.  In  the 
year  1779,  he  read  a  paper  on  the  Aurora 
Borealis  to  the  Koyal  Academy  of  Sciences  at 
Paris,  in  which  he  traced  the  phenomenon  to 
electrical  agencies. 

At  times  he  would  be  led  into  amusing  mis 
apprehensions,  through  his  difficulty  in  under 
standing  the  language  when  uttered  with 
rapidity.  On  one  occasion,  being  present  at  a 
sitting  of  the  Lyceum  or  the  Academy  during 
the  delivery  of  a  lecture,  and  not  distinctly 
understanding  the  French  that  was  spoken,  he 
thought,  in  order  not  to  be  wanting  in  polite 
ness,  that  every  time  he  saw  Madame  de  Bou- 
flers  give  signs  of  approbation,  he  would  ap 
plaud  ;  but  he  afterwards  found  that  without 
knowing  it,  he  had  applauded  most  vigorously 
those  passages  which  had  been  complimentary 
to  himself. 


ANECDOTE    OF    FKANKMV.  185 

We  quote  the  following  anecdote  from  the 
<•  Literary  Correspondence  of  Grim  and  Dide 
rot,"  which  we  believe  has  never  appeared  out 
of  its  French  dress  before.  It  is  dated,  July, 
17T8. 

"  Dr.  Franklin  speaks  little,  and  at  the 
beginning  of  his  sojourn  in  Paris,  when  France 
still  refused  to  declare  herself  openly  in  favor 
of  the  Colonies,  he  spoke  still  less.  At  a  din 
ner  of  literary  men,  one  of  the  company  in 
order  to  start  the  conversation,  began  by  say 
ing  to  him,  'It  must  be  acknowledged,  sir, 
that  it  is  a  great  and  superb  spectacle  that 
America  offers  to  us  to-day.'  '  Yes,'  modestly 
replied  the  Philadelphia  doctor,  i  but  the  spec 
tators  do  not  pay.''  ' 

As  we  have  devoted  this  chapter,  thus  far, 
to  a  variety  of  topics,  serving  as  the  smaller 
rivulets  which  meet  together  and  help  to  form 
the  main  current  of  history,  it  will  be  best  to 
conclude  it  in  the  same  way. 

Some  of  the  most  interesting  notices  of  Dr. 
Franklin's  residence  in  France  are  found  in 
the  memoirs  of  Elkanah  Watson,  and  we  shall 
select  a  passage  here  and  there.  In  1779,  we 
find  him  dining,  by  invitation,  with  M.  -Le 
Roy  de  Chaumont,  in  company  with  the 


186  LIFE   OF   FRANKLIN. 

American  philosopher.  "We  entered  a  spa 
cious  room,"  says  Mr.  Watson,  "I  following 
the  doctor,  where  several  well-dressed  persons 
(to  my  unsophisticated  American  eyes,  gentle 
men)  bowed  to  us  profoundly.  These  were 
servants.  A  folding-door  opened  at  our  ap 
proach,  and  presented  to  my  view  a  brilliant 
assembly,  who  all  greeted  the  wise  old  man  in 
the  most  cordial  and  affectionate  manner.  He 
introduced  me  as  a  young  American,  just  ar 
rived.  One  of  the  young  ladies  approached 
him  with  the  familiarity  of  a  daughter,  tapped 
him  kindly  on  the  cheek,  and  called  him  '  Papa 
Franklin.'  I  was  enraptured  with  the  ease 
and  freedom  exhibited  in  the  table  intercourse 
in  France.  Instead  of  the  cold  ceremony  and 
formal  compliments  to  which  I  had  been  ac 
customed  on  such  occasions,  here  all  appeared 
at  ease,  and  well  sustained.  Some  were  amus 
ing  themselves  with  music ;  others  with  sing 
ing.  Some  were  wraltzing;  and  others  gath 
ered  in  little  groups  in  conversation.  At  the 
table,  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  mingled 
together,  and  joined  in  cheerful  conversation, 
each  selecting  the  delicacies  of  various  courses, 
and  drinking  of  delicious  light  wines,  but  with 
neither  toasts  nor  healths.  The  lady  of  the 


EXTRACTS    FROM    WATSON'S    MEMOIRS.        187 

house,  instead  of  bearing  the  burden  and  in 
convenience  of  superintending  the  duties  of 
the  table,  here  participates  alike  with  others 
in  its  enjoyment.  No  gentlemen,  I  was  told, 
would  be  tolerated  in  France  in  monopolizing 
the  conversation  of  the  table  with  discussions 
of  politics  or  religion,  as  is  frequently  the  case 
in. America.  A  cup  of  coffee  ordinarily  ter 
minates  the  dinner." 

Mr.  Watson  continues  on  another  page  :  "  In 
a  gallery  of  paintings  in  the  Louvre,  I  was 
much  gratified  in  perceiving  the  portrait  of 
Franklin,  near  those  of  the  king  and  queen, 
placed  there  as  a  mark  of  distinguished  respect, 
and,  as  was  understood,   in  conformity  with 
royal  directions.     Few  foreigners  have  been 
presented  to  the  court  of  St.  Cloud  who  have 
acquired  so  much  popularity  as  Dr.  Franklin. 
I  have  seen  the  populace  attend  his  carriage, 
in  the  manner  they  followed  the  king's.     His 
venerable   figure,   the   ease   of    his   manners, 
formed  in  an  intercourse  of  fifty  years  with  the 
world,  his   benevolent   countenance,   and  his 
fame  as  a  philosopher,  all  tended  to  excite  love, 
and  to  command  influence  and  respect.     He 
had  attained,  by  the  exercise  of  these  qualities, 
a  powerful  interest  in  the  feelings  of  the  beau- 


188  LIFE   OF    FKANKLTN. 

tiful  queen  of  France.  She  held  at  that  time 
a  powerful  political  influence.  The  exercise 
of  that  influence,  adroitly  directed  by  Frank 
lin,  tended  to  produce  the  acknowledgment  of 
our  independence,  and  the  subsequent  efficient 
measures  pursued  by  France  in  its  support." 

The  next  extract,  although  somewhat  longer, 
is  too  interesting  to  be  omitted : 

"  Soon  after  my  return  to  Paris"  (he  is  writ 
ing  in  1781),  "  I  dined  and  spent  the  evening 
with  the  immortal  Franklin.  Arriving  at  an 

o 

early  hour,  I  discovered  the  philosopher  in  a 
distant  room  reading,  in  the  exact  posture  in 
which  he  is  represented  by  an  admirable  en 
graving  from  his  portrait ;  his  left  arm  resting 
upon  the  table,  and  his  chin  supported  by  the 
thumb  of  his  right  hand.  His  mingling  in 
the  most  refined  and  exalted  society  of  both 
hemispheres  had  communicated  to  his  manners 
a  blandness  and  urbanity  well  sustained  by  his 
native  grace  and  elegance  of  deportment.  His 
venerable  locks  waving  over  his  shoulders,  and 
the  dignity  of  his  personal  appearance,  com 
manded  reverence  arid  respect,  and  yet  his 
manners  were  so  pleasant  and  fascinating,  that 
one  felt  at  ease  and  unrestrained  in  his  pres 
ence.  He  inquired  whether  I  knew  he  was  a 


PERFORMING    ON    THE    ARMONICA.  189 

musician  ;  and  he  conducted  me  across  the 
room  to  an  instrument  of  his  own  invention, 
which  he  called  the  armonica.  The  music  was 
produced  by  a  peculiar  combination  of  hemi 
spherical  glasses.  At  my  solicitation,  he  played 
upon  it,  and  performed  some  Scotch  pastorales 
with  great  effect.  The  exhibition  was  truly 
striking  and  interesting  :  to  contemplate  an 
eminent  statesman,  in  his  seventy-sixth  year, 
and  the  most  distinguished  philosopher  of  the 
age,  performing  a  simple  pastorale,  on  an  in 
strument  of  his  own  construction.  The  inter 
est  was  not  diminished  by  the  fact  that  this 
philosopher,  who  was  guiding  the  intellects  of 
thousands ;  that  this  statesman,  an  object  of 
veneration  in  the  metropolis  of  Europe,  and 
who  was  influencing  the  destiny  of  nations,  had 
been  an  untutored  printer's  boy  in  America. 

"  Our  conversation  during  the  evening  was 
turned  to  the  all-absorbing  subject  of  the  great 
combination  of  the  French  and  American 
forces  against  Cornwallis.  Our  last  informa 
tion  left  the  affairs  in  Virginia  in  a  precarious 
and  doubtful  posture.  De  Grasse  had  entered 
the  Chesapeake ;  Washington  and  Rocham- 
beau  had  united  their  forces ;  De  Barras,  with 
seven  sail  of  the  line,  had  left  Rhode  Island  to 


190  LIFE    OF   FKANKLIN. 

join  De  Grasse.  The  British  fleet  had  sailed 
from  New  York  with  ten  thousand  troops  to 
relieve  Cornwallis,  and  it  was  reported  that  a 
reinforcement  had  departed  from  England  for 
New  York.  Thus  stood  the  general  aspect  of 
our  intelligence,  at  a  crisis  which  seemed  to 
involve  the  existence  of  a  young  empire.  We 
weighed  probabilities,  balanced  possible  vicis 
situdes,  dissected  maps.  We  feared  that  the 
British  fleet  might  intercept  De  Barras  at  the 
Capes  of  Virginia,  and  thus  retrieve  its  supe 
riority  over  De  Grasse,  attack,  and  overwhelm 
him,  and,  landing  their  army,  defeat  and  break 
up  the  combinations  of  Washington.  The  phi 
losophy  and  self-possession  even  of  Franklin 
seemed  almost  to  abandon  him.  The  vibra 
tions  of  hope  and  fear  occupied  his  inind,  and 
still  I  could  perceive  in  him  a  deep  conviction 
of  a  successful  issue  to  the  operations  of  Wash 
ington.  I  left  him  at  night  in  the  company  of 
Dr.  Bancroft,  an  American,  residing  in  Lon 
don,  but  an  ardent  whig,  and  I  returned  to 
Paris,  in  deep  despondency,  sighing  over  the 
miseries  of  our  bleeding  country. 

"At  dawn  the  next  morning  I  was  aroused 
by  a  thundering  rap  at  my  door.  It  brought 
me  a  circular  from  Dr.  Franklin,  struck  off  by 


NOTE  FROM  COUNT  DE  VERGENNES.    191 

a  machine  somewhat  similar  to  the  copying 
machines  of  the  present  day,  and  with  what 
unspeakable  thankfulness  and  thrilling  inter 
est  I  read  its  contents !  It  was  as  follows  : 

"  '  Copy  of  a  note  from  Count  de  Yergennes 
to  Dr.  Franklin,  dated  Versailles,  19th  Nov., 
1781 — 11  o'clock  at  night: 

" '  SIR  :  I  cannot  better  express  my  grati 
tude  to  youy  for  the  news  you  often  communi 
cate  to  me,  than  by  informing  you  that  the 
Due  de  Lausan  arrived  this  evening,  with  the 
agreeable  news  that  the  combined  armies  oi 
France  and  America  have  forced  Cornwallis 
to  capitulate.  The  English  garrison  came  out 
of  Yorktown  the  19th  of  October,  with  honors 
of  war,  and  laid  down  their  arms  as  prisoners. 
About  six  thousand  troops,  eighteen  hundred 
sailors,  twenty-two  stand  of  colors,  and  one 
hundred  and  seventy  pieces  *  of  cannon — 
seventy-five  of  which  are  brass — are  the  tro 
phies  which  signalize  this  victory ;  besides,  a 
ship  of  fifty  guns  was  burnt,  also  a  frigate,  and 
a  great  number  of  transports. 

"  '  I  have  the  honor,  &c., 

" '  DE  VERGENNES. 

"'To  his  Excellency  Dr.  FRANKLIN.' 


192  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

"  The  next  day  I  waited  on  Dr.  Franklin, 
together  with  many  American  and  French 
gentlemen,  to  offer  our  united  congratulations. 
He  appeared  in  an  ecstasy  of  joy,  observing, 
'  There  is  no  parallel  in  history  of  two  entire 
armies  being  captured  from  the  same  enemy 
in  any  one  war.' 

"  The  delight  and  the  rejoicings  of  all  classes 
of  the  people  were  excessive.  Paris  was  illu 
minated  for  three  successive  nights.  On  my 
return  to  .Nantes,  along  the  banks  of  the  Loire, 
I  found  all  the  cities  in  .a  blaze  of  illumina 
tion,  and  JSTantes  in  the  midst  of  it  on  my  ar 
rival." 


i    CHAPTEE  SIXTEENTH. 

Thoughtful  arrangement  to  prevent  Captain  Cook's  vessel  from 
being  disturbed— Less  about  Lafayette  than  his  goodness 
merits— Correspondence  upon  the  presentation  of  a  sword — 
Another  character,  and  quite  a  different  one — "The  Age  of 
Reason" — Franklin's  noble  letter  to  Paine— Publication  of 
the  miserable  work — Paine  becomes  an  object  of  abhorrence 
to  all  good  men — His  death,  as  described  by  an  eye-witness — 
An  additional  antidote  for  the  poison — "I  would  give  worlds, 
had  the 'Age  ofEeason'  never -been  published!" — Twofold 
warnings. 

1  LTHOUGH  Dr.  Franklin  had  been  so 
j\.  busy  with  public  affairs,  his  interest  in 
scientific  pursuits  had  not  abated,  and  he  was 
always  ready  to  promote  whatever  could  be 
useful  to  mankind. 

When  Captain  Cook's  vessel  was  about  to 
return  from  a  voyage  of  discovery,  he  ad 
dressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  commanders  of 
American  cruisers,  in  his  character  of  minister 
plenipotentiary,  requesting  them  to  allow  the 
famous  English  seaman  to  pass  unmolested, 
and  to  treat-  him  and  his  crew  with  civility 
and  kindness. 

The  British  government  did  not  forget  this 


194  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIX. 

act  of  magnanimity,  but  when  Cook's  voyage 
was  published,  a  handsome  copy  was  sent  to 
Dr.  Franklin,  by  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  with 
the  approbation  of  the  king. 

In  all  that  we  have  said,  thus  far,  in  regard 
to  the  relations  between  France  and  the 
United  States,  the  name  of  the  good  and  the 
gallant  Lafayette  has  scarcely  been  mentioned. 
This  silence  has  not  been  owing  to  any  want 
of  appreciation  of  his  merits,  and  of  his  claim 
to  the  gratitude  of  those  whose  liberties  he 
helped  to  gain,  but  because  our  narrative  is 
necessarily  a  brief  one,  and  circumstances 
which  would  call  us  aside  from  its  chief  design 
are  seldom  introduced. 

Lafayette  joined  our  Revolutionary  army  in 
1777,  and  with  his  purse,  sword,  and  political 
influence  with  the  French  court,  he  rendered 
most  important  services.  In  the  autumn  of 
the  following  year,  when  lie  obtained  leave  of 
absence,  and  returned  to  his  native  land,  Con 
gress,  in  connection  with  the  resolution  for 
granting  him  a  furlough,  also  resolved  :  "  That 
the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States  of  America  at  the  court  of  Versailles 
be  directed  to  cause  an  elegant  sword,  with 
proper  devices,  to  be  made,  and  presented,  in 


LAFAYETTE  3    SWORD.  195 

the  name  of  the  United  States  to  Lafayette." 
In  accordance  with  this  resolution,  Dr.  Frank 
lin  procured  the  sword,  and  sent  it  to  the 
marquis,  with  the  following  complimentary 
letter. 

PASSY,  24th  August,  1779. 

SIR:  The  Congress,  sensible  of  your  merit 
towards  the  United  States,  but  unable  ade 
quately  to  reward  it,  determined  to  present 
you  with  a  sword  as  a  small  mark  of  their 
grateful  acknowledgment.  They  directed  it 
to  be  ornamented  with  suitable  devices.  Some 
of  the  principal  actions  of  the  war,  in  which 
you  distinguished  yourself  by  your  bravery 
and  conduct,  are,  therefore,  represented  upon 
it.  These,  with  a  few  emblematic  figures,  all 
admirably  well  executed,  make  its  principal 
value.  By  the  help  of  the  exquisite  artists 
France  affords,  I  find  it  easy  to  express  every 
thing  but  the  sense  we  have  of  your  worth, 
and  our  obligations  to  you.  For  this,  figures, 
and  even  words,  are  found  insufficient.  I 
therefore  only  add,  that,  with  the  most  per 
fect  esteem,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c., 

B.  FRANKLIN. 

P.  S.  My  grandson  goes  to  Havre  with  the 


196  LIFE   OF   FRANKLIN. 

sword,  and  will  have  the  honor  of  presenting 
it  to  you. 

The  marquis  in  reply,  after  acknowledging 
the  presentation  of  the  sword,  said  : 

"  In  some  of  the  devices  I  cannot  help  find 
ing  too  honorable  a  rewrard  for  those  slight 
services  which,  in  concert  with  my  fellow-sol 
diers,  arid  under  the  god-like  American  hero's 
orders,  I  had  the  good  luck  to  render.  The 
sight  of  these  actions,  where  I  was  a  witness 
of  American  bravery  and  patriotic  spirit,  I 
shall  ever  enjoy  with  that  pleasure  which  be 
comes  a  heart  glowing  with  love  for  the  na 
tion,  and  the  most  ardent  zeal  for  their  glory 
and  happiness.  Assurances  of  gratitude, 
which  I  beg  leave  to  present  to  your  excel 
lency,  are  much  too  inadequate  to  express  my 
feelings,  and  nothing  but  those  sentiments 
may  properly  acknowledge  your  kindness 
towards  me.  The  polite  manner  in  which  Mr. 
Franklin  was  pleased  to  deliver  that  estimable 
sword,  lays  me  under  great  obligations  to  him, 
arid  demands  my  particular  thanks.  With 
the  most  perfect  respect,  I  have  the  honor  to 

be,  &c., 

"  LA  FAYETTE." 


LETTER    TO   THOMAS    PAINE.  197 

We  have  now  another  character  to  intro 
duce,  and  we  are  disposed  to  beg  pardon  of 
the  good  marquis,  for  placing  his  name  in  the 
same  chapter  even,  with  a  person  so  odious  as 
Thomas  Paine. 

This  miserable  man,  it  must  be  acknowl 
edged,  deserves  some  credit  for  those  stirring 
..pamphlets  which  he  wrote,  rousing  the  minds 
of  the  outraged  Colonists  to  assert  their  rights  ; 
but  the  United  States  afterwards  paid  him 
well  for  all  that  he  had  done. 

When  the  war  was  over,  and  he  needed 
some  other  excitement  to  occupy  his  restless 
spirit,  his  vanity  prompted  him  to  publish  a 
work  against  the  Christian  religion.  Before 
committing  it  to  the  press,  he  submitted  the 
manuscript  to  Franklin  for  his  inspection  and 
opinion,  and  received  the  following  reply.  It 
was  written  about  the  year  1788,  while  the 
doctor  was  yet  in  Paris. 

DEAR  SIR  : 

I  have  read  your  manuscript  with  some  at 
tention.  By  the  argument  it  contains  against 
a  particular  Providence,  though  you  allow 
a  general  Providence,  you  strike  at  the 
foundations  of  all  religion.  For  without  the 

17* 


198  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

belief  of  a  Providence,  that  takes  cognizance 
of,  guards,  and  guides,  and  may  favor  particu 
lar  persons,  there  is  no  motive  to  worship  a 
Deity,  to  fear  His  displeasure,  or  to  pray  for 
His  protection.  I  will  not  enter  into  any  dis 
cussion  of  your  principles,  though  you  seem  to 
desire  it.  At  present  I  shall  only  give  you 
my  opinion,  that,  though  your  reasonings  are 
subtile,  and  may  prevail  with  some  readers, 
yoii  will  not  succeed  so  as  to  change  the  gen 
eral  sentiments  of  mankind  on  that  subject, 
and  the  consequence  of  printing  this  piece  will 
be  a  great  deal  of  odium  drawn  upon  your 
self,  mischief  to  you,  and  no  benefit  to  others. 
He  that  spits  against  the  wind,  spits  in  his  own 
face.  But  were  you  to  succeed,  do  you  im 
agine  any  good  would  be  done  by  it?  You 
yourself  may  find  it  easy  to  live  a  virtuous 
life,  without  the  assistance  afforded  by  reli 
gion  ;  you  having  a  clear  perception  of  the 
advantages  of  virtue,  and  the  disadvantages  ol 
vice,  and  possessing  a  strength  of  resolution 
sufficient  to  enable  you  to  resist  common 
temptations.  But  think  how  great  a  portion 
of  mankind  consists  of  weak  and  ignorant  men 
and  women,  and  of  inexperienced,  inconsider 
ate  youth  of  both  sexes,  who  have  need  of  the 


DISAPPROVES    OF    PAINED    WORK.  199 

motives  of  religion  to  restrain  them  from  vice, 
to  support  their  virtue,  and  retain  them  in  the 
practice  of  it  till  it  becomes  habitual,  which 
is  the  great  point  for  its  security.     And  per 
haps  you  are  indebted  to  her  originally,  that 
is,  to  your  "religious  education,  for  the  habits 
of  virtue  upon  which  you  now  justly  value 
yourself.     You  might  easily  display  your  ex 
cellent  talents  of  reasoning  upon  a  less  hazard 
ous  subject,  and  thereby  obtain  a  rank  Avith 
our  most  distinguished  authors.     For  among 
us  it  is  not  necessary,  as  among  the  Hotten 
tots,  that  a  youth,  to  be  raised  into  the  com 
pany  of  men,  should  prove  his  manhood  by 
beating   his    mother.     I   would    advise   you, 
therefore,  not  to  attempt  unchaining  the  tiger, 
but  to  burn  this  piece  before  it  is  seen  by  any 
other  person  ;  whereby  you  will  save  yourself 
a  great  deal  of  mortification  by  the  enemies  it 
may  raise  against  you,  and  perhaps  a  good 
deal  of  regret  and  repentance.     If  men  are  so 
wicked  with  religion,  what  would  they  be  if 
without  it. 

I  intend  this  letter  itself  as  a  proof  of  my 
friendship,  and,  therefore,  add  no  professions 
to  it;  but  subscribe  simply  yours, 

B.  FRANKLIN. 


200 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


Happy  would  it  have  been  for  Paine  had  he 
heeded  this  kindly  warning.  Bat  he  preferred 
to  follow  his  own  inclinations,  and  the  wretch 
ed  publication  was  given  to  the  world.  This 
mad  assault  upon  Christianity  was  followed 
by  a  letter  to  General  Washington,  heaping 
abuse  on  his  spotless  name.  After  this,  Paine 
was  despised  and  avoided  by  all,  and  soon 
abandoned  himself  to  hard  drink,  and  became 
too  disgusting  an  object  to  look  upon.  He 
died  on  the  8th  of  June,  1809,  but  not  until  he 
had  experienced  the  fearful  horrors  of  remorse. 
"During  my  residence  in  the  city  of  New 
York,"  says  Bishop  Eastburn,  of  Massachu 
setts,  "  one  of  my  parishioners  was  the  phy 
sician  who  attended,  in  his  last  illness,  the 
famous  Thomas  Paine.  And  I  had  it  from 
the  lips  of  that  person,  that  this  noted  blas- 
.phemer,  not  many  hours  before  his  departure, 
and  while  in  the  full  possession  of  his  mental 
faculties,  was  overheard  by  him  calling  repeat 
edly  for  help  on  that  very  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  it  had  been  the  object  of  all  his  pre 
vious  life  to  hold  up  to  scorn  and  execration. 
His  end  was  the  very  consummation  of  fear 
and  foreboding." 

The  following  impressive  statement  is  taken 


DEATH-BED    OF    PAINE.  201 

from  the  Presbyterian.  It  gives  the  testimo 
ny  of  another  eye-witness.  "  There  is  now  in 
Philadelphia  a  lady  who  saw  Paine  on  his 
dying  bed.  Her  intelligence  and  high  char 
acter  entitle  her  statement  to  the  most  implicit 
credence.  She  informs  us  that  Paine's  physi 
cian  also  attended  her  father's  family  in  the 
city  of  l!x"ew  York,  where  in  her  youth  she 
resided,  and  that  on  one  occasion  while  at 
their  house,  he  proposed  to  her  to  accompany 
him  to  the  infidel's  dwelling,  which  she  did. 

O  / 

It  was  a  miserable  hovel,  in  what  was  then 
Raisin-street.  She  had  often  seen  Paine  be 
fore,  a  drunken  profligate,  wandering  about 
the  streets,  from  whom  the  children  fled  in 
terror.  On  entering  the  room  where  he  lay, 
she  found  him  stretched  on  his  miserable  bed, 
clad  in  a  flannel  shirt,  with  a  red  cap  drawn 
over  his  head.  His  visage  was  lean  and  hag 
gard,  and  wore  the  expression  of  great  agony. 
He  expressed  himself  without  reserve  as  to  his 
fears  of  death,  and  repeatedly  called  on  the 
name  of  Jesus,  begging  for  merely.  The  scene 
was  impressive  and  appalling,  and  was  en 
graven  so  deeply  on  her  mind  that  nothing 
could  obliterate  it.  The  statement  of  the 
physician,  which  afterwards  appeared  in  print, 


202 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


entirely  corresponds  with  what  she  saw  and 
heard.     We  have,  therefore,  the  testimony  of 
two  credible  witnesses,  that  the  wretched  man 
who  had  spent  his  life  in  reviling  the  Christian 
religion,  and  poisoning  the  minds  of  his  fellow- 
creatures  with  his  infidel  sentiments,  renounced 
them  in  his  dying  hour,  and  called  upon  that 
Saviour  whom  he  had  despised,  to  save  him 
from  the  terrible  retribution  which  be  felt  was 
about  to  follow  his  infamous  life.     Conscience 
had  already  begun  the  work,  which  he  had 
but  too  good  reason  to  fear  would  be  continued 
after   death   by   the    worm    that   never  dies. 
However  much  Paine's  followers  may  applaud 
his  writings,  his  dying  hours  refute  them  all." 
As   so   much   mischief  has   been   done  by 
Paine's  "  Age  of  Eeason,"  it  can  hardly   be 
considered  time  wasted,  to  furnish  an  antidote 
for   the   poison.   -We   therefore   add    another 
piece  of  information,  derived  from  a  trustwor 
thy  source.     "  A  few  weeks  since,"  writes  the 
correspondent  of  a  leading  journal,  "a  fact  in 
the  life  of  Thomas  Paine  reminded  me,  most 
forcibly,  of  the  importance  of  having  all  our 
actions   good   and   useful.      It   occurred  just 
after  the  publication  of  his  <  Age  of  Eeason.' 
"  My  uncle,  J.  B.,  then  a  youth  of  nineteen 


THE 


c  "AGE  OF  REASON."  203 


years,  was  predisposed  to  skepticism,  and  had 
for  a  long  time  desired  to  read  Paine's  works. 
Having  been  to  Sing  Sing,  K  Y.,  on  business, 
the   innkeeper,  as   he  was   about   to    return, 
observed  to  him  that  there  was  a  gentleman 
who  wished  to  get  a  ride;   and  if  he  would 
carry  him,  he  would  speak  to  him.     Mr.  K. 
inquired  who  he  was.     The  innkeeper  replied, 
'It  is  Mr.  Thomas   Paine,  recently  returned 
from  England.'     This  highly  pleased  Mr.  K, 
for  he  had  long  desired  an  interview  with  him. 
Mr.  Paine  took  his  seat  by  his  side,  and  they 
rode   away.     Their  conversation  immediately 
turned  upon  his  recently  published  theological 
works.     Mr.  K.  having  cherished  a  hope  that 
the  claims  of  the  Bible  might  be  proved  null 
and  void,  began  to  congratulate  him  on  the 
anticipated  success  of  the   '  Age  of  Keason.' 
Paine  inquired  after  its  popularity,  wishing  to 
know  how  it  was  received,  what  his  neighbors 
thought  of  it,  &c.,  and  drew  out  of  him  all  he 
felt  disposed  to  say.     After  satisfying  himself 
with  these  inquiries,  he  took  a  long  breath, 
and  made,  subsequently,  the  following  reply : 
4  Well,  sir,  I  am  sorry  that  that  work   ever 
went  to  press.     I  wrote  it -more  for  my  own 
amusement  and  to  see  what  I  could  do  than 


204  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

any  design  of  benefiting  the  world.  I  would 
give  worlds?  said  he,  with  great  emphasis, 
'  had  I  them  at  my  command,  had  the  "Age  of 
Reason"  never  been  published!  No,  sir,  I 
regret  the  publication  of  that  work  exceeding 
ly.  It  can  never  do  the  world  any  good,  and 
its  sarcastic  style  will,  doubtless,  lead  thou 
sands  to  esteem  lightly  the  only  book  of  correct 
morals  that  has  ever  blessed  the  world.  I 
-would  advise  you,'  continued  Paine,  turning 
his  eye  to  meet  Mr.  K.'s,  'not  to  read  that 
work.'  At  this,  Mr.  K.  said  he  *  was  perfectly 
surprised.'  He  knew  not  what  to  say.  '  What !' 
thought  he,  'the  author  of  a  book  so  notorious, 
repudiating  all  faith  in  his  own  work !  What 
confidence  can  he  expect  others  to  have  in  it, 
if  he  has  none  himself?  If  Paine  himself  can 
not  rely  on  his  writings,  how  shall  other  men 
dare  to  trust  themselves  in  the  belief  of  them? 
If  the  "  As;e  of  Reason"  will  not  answer  for 

O 

its  author,  it  will  not  answer  for  me,  or  for  any 
other  person  in  the  world.'  Mr.  K.  took  up 
with  Paine's  advice,  '  not  to  read  that  work,' 
for  he  felt  no  concern  to  pore  over  three  or 
four  hundred  pages,  simply  to  fill  his  mind 
with  an  acknowledged  lie,  and  from  that  time 
his  tendencies  to  skepticism  left  him." 


TWO  FEARFUL  WARNINGS. 


205 


I  have  seen  boys  get  together  in  the  evening 
after  a  day's  labor,  and  sit  and  tell  stories. 
One  relates  a  wonderful  exploit,  and  another 
is  reminded  of  an  achievement,  and  another 
has  a  heroic  deed  to  tell  of,  and  so  they  go 
round,  each  one  vicing  with  the  other  in  at 
tempts  to  tell  the  biggest  story.  This  must 
have  been  the  real  heart  of  Paine  when  he  sat 
clown  and  took  his  pen  to  traduce  and  belie 
the  sacred  volume.  He  felt  like  making  out  a 
good  story,  which  he  in  his  heart  did  not 
believe.  Notice,  then,  two  fearful  warnings : 

1.  All   those   who   read   and   believe  Tom 
Paine's  "  Age  of  Keason,"  are  more  credulous 
than  the  noted  author  himself,  for  he  had  no 
confidence  in  his  own  story. 

2.  An  infidel  may  begin  his  suffering  in  this 
world  for  the  publication  of  his  wicked  doc 
trines.     What  a  regret  fills  the  poor   man's 
mind!     "I  would  give  worlds,  had  I  them  at 
my  command,  if  the  'Age  of  Keason'  had 
never  been   published!"     Oh!    you  who  are 
tempted  to  reject  the  record  God  gave  of  his 
Son,  beware ! 

18 


CHAPTER    SEVENTEENTH. 

Some  leading  events  briefly  noted— Dr.  Franklin  requests  to 
be  recalled  home— After  waiting  three  years  longer,  the  peti 
tion  is  granted— Bidding  farewell  to  France— Meets  with' 
friends  at  Southampton— Landing  at  Philadelphia-amidst  the 
ringing  of  bells,  and  other  demonstrations  of  joy— ActiorSf 
the  General  Assembly— Chosen  President  of  Pennsylvania— 
"  I  am  got  into  my  niche,  after  being  kept  out  of  it  twenty- 
four  years"— A  delegate  to  a  most  important  convention- 
Franklin's  speech  in  defence  of  daily  prayers—"  God  governs 
in  the  affairs  of  men"— Signing  the  Constitution— The  sun 
behind  the  president's  chair. 

WE  must  briefly  note  the  leading  events 
connected  with  Dr.  Franklin's  negotia 
tions  abroad,  and  then  follow  him  once  more 
to  Philadelphia. 

The  British  ministry  having  failed  in  their 
efforts  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  with  the 
Colonies,  afterwards  attempted  to  separate 
America  from  France,  and  to  excite  a  jealousy 
between  the  two  countries  ;  but  all  these  plans 
were  defeated  by  the  firmness  and  prudence 
of  the  American  commmissioners. 

When  the  treaty  was  made  with  France,  of 
which  we  have  spoken  before,  Dr.  Franklin 


DEPARTURE    FOR    AMERICA. 


207 


was  appointed  minister  plenipotentiary  to  tlie 
court  of  that  country  ;  and  towards  the  end  of 
the  war,  he  was  named  one  of  the  commis 
sioners  for  negotiating  the  peace  with  England. 

At  the  close  of  this  important  business  (No 
vember,  1782),  be  requested  to  be  recalled, 
after  fifty  years  spent  in  the  service  of  his 
country.  This  petition  was  not  granted  until 
1785.  Daring  the  interval,  he  negotiated  two 
treaties,  one  with  Sweden,  and  another  with 
Prussia. 

When  Franklin  seriously  entered  upon  his 
preparations  for  returning  to  America,  many 
who  revered  and  loved  him,  began  to  express 
their  sincere  regrets.  One  after  another  they 
took  their  leave  of  him,  while  the  principal 
personages  of  the  court  testified  their  respect 
and  good  wishes.  "  I  have  learned  with  much 
concern,"  said  Count  de  Yergennes,  "  of  your 
retiring,  and  of  your  approaching  departure 
for  America.  You  cannot  doubt  that  the 
regrets  which  you  will  leave  will  be  propor 
tionate  to  the  consideration  you  so  justly  en 
joy.  I  can  assure  you,  sir,  that  the  esteem 
the  king  entertains  for  you  does  not  leave  you 
any  thing  to  wish,  and  that  his  majesty  will 
learn  with  real  satisfaction,  that  your  fellow- 


208  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

citizens  have  rewarded,  in  a  manner  worthy  of 
you,  the  important  services  that' you  have  ren 
dered  them.  I  beg,  sir,  that  you  will  pre 
serve  for  me  a  share  in  your  remembrance, 
and  never  doubt  the  sincerity  of  the  interest  I 
take  in  your  happiness."  The  Marquis  de 
Castris,  minister  of  marine,  wrote  to  him  :  "  I 
was  not  apprised,  until  within  a  few  hours,  of, 
the  arrangements  you  have  made  for  your  de 
parture.  Had  I  been  informed  of  it  sooner,  I 
should  have  proposed  to  the  king  to  order  a 
frigate  to  convey  you  to  your  own  country,  in 
such  a  manner  as  would  mark  the  considera 
tion  whicli  you  have  acquired  by  your  distin 
guished  services  in  France,  and  the  particular 
esteem  which  his  majesty  entertains  for  you." 
His  bodily  infirmities  were  such  that  he 
could  not  bear  the  motion  of  a  carriage.  He 
left  Passy  on  the  12th  of  July,  in  the  queen's 
litter,  which  had  been  kindly  offered  to  him 
for  his  journey  to  Havre  de  Grace.  This 
vehicle  was  borne  by  Spanish  mules,  and  he 
was  able  to  travel  in  it  without  pain  or  fa 
tigue.  He  slept  the  first  night  at  St.  Germain. 
Some  of  his  friends  accompanied  him.  On  the 
journey  he  passed  one  night  at  the  chateau  of 
the  Cardinal  de  la  Kochefoucaukl,  and  an- 


ARRIVES    AT    PHILADELPHIA.  209 

other  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Holker,  at  Rouen ; 
and  he  received  civilities  and  complimentary 
visits  from  many  of  the  inhabitants  at  differ 
ent  places.  The  sixth  day  after  leaving  Passy 
he  arrived  at  Havre  de  Grace. 

From  that  port  he  passed  over  in  a  packet- 
boat  to  Southampton. 

Here  he  was  met  by  Bishop  Shipley  and  his 
family,  as  we  related  in  chapter  eleventh. 
Here  also  he  found  his  son  -William,  whom 
he  had  not  seen  for  more  than  nine  years,  and 
whose  course  in  regard  to  politics,  meanwhile, 
had  occasioned  his  father  much  distress. 

Dr.  Franklin  sailed  from  Southampton  on 
the  27th  of  July,  and  landed  at  Philadelphia 
on  the  14th  of  September,  having  suffered  less 
inconvenience  during  the  voyage  than  he 
anticipated.  He  was  greeted  by  a  large  con 
course  of  his  fellow-citizens,  at  Market-street 
wharf,  who  followed  him  with  acclamations  to 
his  own  door,  while  the  ringing  of  bells  and 
firing  of  cannon  testified  to  the  general  joy 
that  was  felt  at  his  safe  return. 

As  soon  as  his  arrival  was  known,  letters  of 
congratulation  came  from  all  quarters;  Gen 
eral  AVashington  being  among  the  first  to  wel 
come  him.  The  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania 

18* 


210  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

was  then  in  session,  and  the  day  after  he 
landed,  an  address  was  presented  to  him  by 
that  body,  in  which  they  congratulate  him, 
in  the  most  cordial  manner,  on  his  safe  return. 
"  We  are  confident,"  they  observe,  "  that  we 
speak  the  sentiments  of  this  whole  country, 
when  we  say,  that  your  services,  in  the  public 
councils  and  negotiations,  have  not  only  mer 
ited  the  thanks  of  the  present  generation,  but 
will  be  recorded  in  the  pages  of  history  to 
your  immortal  honor;  and  it  is  particularly 
pleasing  to  ns,  that  while  we  are  sitting  as 
members  of  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania, 
we  have  the  happiness  of  welcoming  into  the 
State  a  person  who  was  so  greatly  instrumental 
in  forming  its  free  constitution."  This  was 
followed  by  a  similar  address  from  the  Amer 
ican  Philosophical  Society,  and  the  Faculty  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  To  all  of 
them  he  returned  brief  and  appropriate  an 
swers. 

Having  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
one,  Dr.  Franklin  might  reasonably  have  sup 
posed  that  his  public  life  was  at  an  end ;  but 
he  had  only  been  at  home  a  few  days,  when 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Ex 
ecutive  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  when 


IN    THE    MIDST    OF    HIS    FAMILY.  211 

the  Assembly  met  in  October,  he  was  chosen 
president  of  the  State,  an  office  answering  that 
of  governor  in  the  other  States.  He  was  re- 
elected  to  the  same  office  for  three  successive 
years,  and  so  completely  did  he  discharge  its 
duties,  that  he  would  undoubtedly  have  been 
continued  in  the  same  honorable  position,  had 
not  the  terms  of  the  existing  constitution  pre 
vented. 

He  was  apparently  at  ease  in  his  private 
circumstances,  and  happy  in  his  domestic  re 
lations.  He  occupied  himself  for  some  time 
in  finishing  a  house  which  had  been  begun 
many  years  before,  and  in  which  he  fitted  up 
a  spacious  apartment  for  hi?  library.  In  writ 
ing  to  a  friend,  ho  said :  "  I  am  surrounded  by 
my  offspring,  a  dutiful  and  affectionate  daugh 
ter  in  my  house,  with  six  grandchildren,  the 
eldest  of  whom  you  have  seen,  who  is  now  at 
college  in  the  next  street,  finishing  the  learned 
part  of  hit*  education  ;  the  others  promising, 
both  for  parts  and  good  dispositions.  What 
their  conduct  may  be,  when  they  grow  up  and 
enter  the  important  scenes  of  life,  T  shall  not 
live  to  see,  and  I  cannot  foresee.  I  therefore 
enjoy  among  them  the  present  hour,  and 
leave  the  future  to  Providence." 


212  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

Again,  to  another  correspondent  he  wrote : 
"  I  am  got  into  my  niche,  after  being  kept  out 
of  it  twenty-four  years  by  foreign  employ 
ments.  It  is  a  very  good  house,  that  I  built 
so  long  ago  to  retire  into,  without  being  able 
till  now  to  enjoy  it.  I  am  again  surrounded 
by  my  friends,  with  a  fine  family  of -grand 
children  about  my  knees,  and  an  affectionate, 
good  daughter  and  son-in-law  to  take  care  of 
me.  And  after  fifty  years'  public  service,  I 
have  the  pleasure  to  find  the  esteem  of  my 
country  with  regard  to  me  undiminished." 

Much  of  his  time  was  devoted  to  the  society 
of  those  around  him,  and  of  the  numerous 
visitors  whom  curiosity  and  respect  prompted 
to  seek  his  acquaintance.  His  attachments  to 
the  many  intimate  friends  he  had  left  in  Eu 
rope  were  likewise  preserved  by  a  regular 
and  affectionate  correspondence,  in  which  are 
manifested  the  same  steadiness  of  feeling  and 
enlarged  benevolence,  die  same  playfulness 
and  charm  of  style  that  are  conspicuous  in  the 
compositions  of  his  earlier  years. 

Dr.  Franklin  was  elected  one  of  the  dele 
gates  from  Pennsylvania  to  the  convention  for 
forming  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  in  May,  1787. 


DAILY    PRATERS.  213 

The  session  lasted  four  months ;  but  he  at 
tended  most  faithfully  to  the  important  busi 
ness  before  that  body,  besides  discharging  his 
duties  as  president  of  the  State.  One  of  his 
speeches  is  worthy  of  being  printed  in  letters 
of  gold.  The  convention  had  been  in  session 
four  or  five  weeks,  and  very  little  progress 
had  been  made  in  their  work,  on  account  of 
differences  and  disagreements,  when  Franklin 
rose  in  his  place,  and  introduced  a  motion  for 
daily  prayer.  "No  one,"  remarks  Bishop 
Potter  of  Pennsylvania,  "will  accuse  him  of 
superstition  or  of  an  undue  regard  for  the 
supernatural.  All  will  admit  that  few  men 
ever  surpassed  him  as  a  shrewd  observer  of 
life  and  of  human  affairs,  or  as  a  profound 
inquirer  after  the  causes  and  principles  that 
lie  at  the  bottom  of  great  events."* 

Listen  to  his  language : 

"  In  the  beginning  of  the  contest  with  Brit 
ain,  when  we  were  sensible  of  danger,  we  had 
daily  prayers  in  this  room  for  the  divine  pro 
tection.  Our  prayers,  sir,  were  heard,  and 
they  were  graciously  answered.  All  of  us 


*  Philadelphia  Lectures  on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity, 
p.  143. 


214  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

who  were  engaged  in  the  struggle  must  have 
observed  frequent  instances  of  a  superintend 
ing  Providence  in  our  favor.  To  that  kind 
Providence  we  owe  this  happy  opportunity  of 
consulting  in  peace  on  the  means  of  establish 
ing  our  future  national  felicity.  And  have 
we  now  forgotten  that  powerful  Friend,  or  do 
we  imagine  we  no  longer  need  His  assistance? 
I  have  lived,  sir,  a  long  time,  and  the  longer 
I  live  the  more  convincing  proofs  I  see  of  this 
truth,  that  God  governs  in  the  affairs  of  men. 
And  if  a  sparrow  cannot  fall  to  the  ground 
without  His  notice,  is  it  probable  that  an  em 
pire  can  rise  without  His  aid  ?  We  have  been 
assured,  sir,  in  the  sacred  writings,  that,  i  ex 
cept  the  Lord  build  the  house,  they  labor  in 
vain  that  build  it.'  I  firmly  believe  this,  and 
I  also  believe  that  without  His  concurring  aid 
we  shall  succeed  in  this  political  building  no 
better  than  the  builders  of  Babel ;  we  shall  be 
divided  by  our  little,  partial,  local  interests ; 
our  projects  will  be  confounded,  and  we  our 
selves  shall  become  a  reproach  and  a  by-word 
down  to  future  ages;  and,  what  is  worse,  man 
kind  may  hereafter,  from  this  unfortunate  in 
stance,  despair  of  establishing  government  by 
human  wisdom,  and  leave  it  to  chance,  war, 


A    RISING    SUN.  '215 

and  conquest.  I  therefore  beg  leave  to  move 
that  henceforth  prayers,  imploring  the  assist 
ance  of  Heaven  and  its  blessing  on  our  delib 
erations,  be  held  in  this  Assembly  every  morn 
ing  before  we  proceed  to  business,  and  that 
one  or  more  of  the  clergy  of  this  city  be  re 
quested  to  officiate  in  that  service." 

At  the  close  of  this  most  important  conven 
tion,  as  the  members  on  the  last  day  of  the 
session  were  sigrring  the  Constitution,  Dr. 
Franklin,  looking  towards  the  president's 
chair,  at  the  back  of  which  a  sun  was  painted, 
observed  to  those  persons  next  to  him :  "I 
have  'often  and  often,  in  the  course  of  the  ses 
sion,  and  the  vicissitudes  of  my  hopes  and 
fears  as  to  its  issue,  looked  at  that  sun  be 
hind  the  president,  without  being  able  to  tell 
whether  it  was  rising  or  setting.  At  length  I 
have  the  happiness  to  know  it  is  a  rising  and 
not  a  setting  sun."* 

May  the  God  of  our  fathers  grant  that  no 
angry  and  portentous  clouds  may  darken  our 
political  horizon,  and  that  the  sun  of  this  re 
public  may  never  more  go  down. 

*  "  The  Madison  Papers,"  vol.  iii.,  p.  1024. 


CHAPTER  EIGHTEENTH. 

Franklin's  writings  easily  identified — The  germs  of  ideas  now 
triumphant — "  Words  spoken  in  season" — Copper  coinage — 
A  good  suggestion — The  Franklin  copper — The  Order  of  the 
Cincinnati,  and  its  hereditary  honors — "Washington  quiets  a 
storm— Ascending  and  descending  honors — Ribbons  and 
medals— The  bald  eagle  which  looked  like  a  turkey — A  bird 
of  courage— The  dead  fly  restored,  to  life— Franklin's  wish — 
Wonders  he  might  have  seen. 

TFHEKE  is  such  pith  and  point  in  all  of  Dr. 
X  Franklin's  writings,  that  his  name  need 
hardly  be  appended  to  them  in  order  that  they 
may  be  identified.  It  is  fortunate  that  this  is 
the  case,  as  he  took  very  little  pains  to  secure 
credit  to  himself  in  this  way.  He  seems  to 
have  valued  the  pen — as  he  did  time,  money, 
and  experience — for  its  direct  tendency  to  ex 
tend  knowledge,  comfort,  and  utility.  "If 
we  glance  at  the  subjects  and  occasions  of  his 
tracts,  letters,  reports,  pamphlets,  and  essays," 
remarks  Mr.  Tuckerman,  "  we  shall  find  they 
embrace  the  whole  circle  of  questions  import 
ant  to  his  country  and  his  age, — morals,  the 
economy  of  life,  commerce,  finance,  history, 
and  politics.  We  find  in  them  the  germs  of 


217 

ideas  now  triumphant ;  of  principles,  through 
his  advocacy,  in  no  small  degree,  since  em 
bodied  in  action,  and  brought  to  grand  prac 
tical  results.  A  parable  wins  men  to  tolera 
tion  ;  a  maxim  guides  them  to  frugality ;  a 
comprehensive  argument  initiates  the  plan  of 
that  federal  union  which  has  proved  the  key 
stone  of  our  national  prosperity ;  the  farmer 
or  the  mariner,  consulting  '  Poor  Richard's 
Almanac'  to  learn  the  fluctuation  of  weather 
or  tide,  finds,  beside  these  chronicles  of  Na 
ture's  mysteries,  advice  which  puts  him  un 
consciously  on  the  track  of  provident  habits, 
temperance,  and  contentment ;  the  patriot  in 
the  field  is  cheered  by  the  wisdom  of  the 
judge  in  council ;  the  shipwright,  the  horti 
culturist,  the  printer,  the  lowly  aspirant  for 
self-improvement,  as  well  as  the  statesman 
and  the  philosopher,  find  wisdom  and  encour 
agement  from  his  '  words  spoken  in  season  ;' 
in  the  prudent  household  his  name  is  asso 
ciated  with  the  invaluable  heating  apparatus 
that  saves  their  fuel  and  increases  the  genial 
warmth  of  the  evening  fireside ;  in  the  discon 
solate  crisis  of  war  his  foreign  diplomacy  and 
judicious  hints  warm  the  heart  of  valor  with 
the  prescience  of  success ;  in  the  land  of  his 

19 


218  LIFE    OF   FEANKLIN. 

country's  enemies,  his  clear  statement  of  griev 
ances,  and  his  intrepid  reproof  of  injustice, 
conciliate  the  nobler  spirits  there,  and  vindi 
cate  the  leaders  at  home ;  the  encroachments 
of  savage  tribes  are  checked,  the  policy  of 
colonial  rule  softened,  the  comforts  of  domes 
tic  life  enhanced,  the  resources  of  the  mind 
elicited,  and,  in  a  word,  the  basis  of  national 
prosperity  laid  on  the  eternal  foundation  of 
popular  enlightenment,  self-reliance,  and  fore 
sight,  by  the  oracles  of  the  American  philoso 
pher  thus  casually  uttered  and  incidentally 
proclaimed." 

The  matter-of-fact  and  useful  turn  of  Dr. 
Franklin's  mind  is  shown  in  a  letter  addressed 
to  Edward  Bridgen,  with  reference  to  a  cop 
per  coinage  for  the  United  States  : 

PASSY,  2d  October,  1779. 
DEAR  Sm : 

I  received  your  favor  of  the  17th  past, 
and  the  two  samples  of  copper  are  since  come 
to  hand.  The  metal  seems  to  be  very  good, 
and  the  price  reasonable ;  but  I  have  not  yet 
received  the  orders  necessary  to  justify  my 
making  the  purchase  proposed.  There  has 
indeed  been  an  intention  to  strike  copper  coin, 


COPPER    COINAGE.  219 

that  may  not  only  be  useful  as  small  change, 
but  serve  other  purposes.  Instead  of  repeat 
ing  continually  upon  every  halfpenny  the  dull 
story  that  everybody  knows — and  what  it 
would  have  been  no  loss  to  mankind  if  no 
body  had  ever  known — that  George  the  Third 
is  king  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
&ct,  &c.,  to  put  on  one  side  some  important 
proverb  of  Solomon,  some  pious  moral,  pru 
dential,  or  economical  precept,  the  frequent 
inculcation  of  which,  by  seeing  it  every  time 
one  receives  a  piece  of  money,  might  make  an 
impression  upon  the  mind,  especially  of  young 
persons,  and  tend  to  regulate  the  conduct ; 
such  as,  on  some,  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the 
beginning  of  wisdom  ;  on  others,  Honesty  is 
the  best  policy  /  on  others,  He  that  by  the 
plough  would  thrive,  himself  must  either  hold 
or  drive;  on  others,  I£eep  thy  shop,  and  thy 
shop  will  keep  thee  ;  on  others,  A  penny  saved 
is  a  penny  got  j  on  others,  He  that  buys  what 
he  has  no  need  of,  will  soon  be  forced  to 
sell  his  necessaries ;  on  others,  Early  to  bed, 
and  early  to  rise,  will  make  a  man  healthy, 
wealthy,  and  wise;  and  so  on,  to  a  great 
variety. 

The  other  side  it  was  proposed  to  fill  with 


220  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

good  designs,  drawn  and  engraved  by  the  best 
artists  in  France,  of  all  the  different  species  of 
barbarity  with  which  the  English  have  car 
ried  on  the  war  in  America,  expressing  every 
abominable  circumstance  of  their  cruelty  and 
inhumanity  that  figures  can  express,  to  make 
an  impression  on  the  minds  of  posterity  as 
strong  and  durable  as  that  on  the  copper. 
This  resolution  has  been  a  long  time  forborne ; 
but  the  late  burning  of  defenceless  towns  in 
Connecticut,  on  the  flimsy  pretence  that  the 
people  fired  from  behind  their  houses,  when  it 
is  known  to  have  been  premeditated  and  or 
dered  from  England,  give  the  finishing  provo 
cation,  and  may  occasion  a  vast  demand  for 
your  metal.  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  wishes 
respecting  my  health.  I  return  them  most 
cordially  fourfold  into  your  own  bosom. 

Adieu.  B.  FRANKLIN. 

A  coin  was  issued  from  the  United  States 
mint  in  1787,  called  the  "  Fugio,  or  Franklin 
copper,"  because  of  the  pithy  advice  in  the 
legend,  "  Mind  your  business,"  which  sounds 
like  the  philosopher,  and  which  tradition  has 
generally  ascribed  to  him.  We  give  a  draw 
ing  of  this  copper  here. 


ORDER    OF   THE    CINCINNATI. 


221 


Dr.  Franklin's  republican  simplicity  was 
manifested  in  his  opposition  to  the  Order  of  the 
Cincinnati,  established  by  the  officers  of  the 
Revolutionary  army,  in  1783,  to  perpetuate 
their  friendship,  and  to  raise  a  fund  for  reliev 
ing  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  had 
fallen  during  the  war.  The  honors  of  the 
society  were  designed  to  be  hereditary  in  the 
eldest  male  line  of  the  original  members,  and 
it  was  to  this  feature  of  its  constitution  that 
most  objection  was  made.  By  the  advice  of 
Gen.  "Washington,  the  first  president  of  the 
order,  the  hereditary  principle  was  abandoned, 
and  thus  a  menacing  storm  was  silenced.* 

Before  giving  Franklin's  witty  and  sarcastic 
communication  on  the  subject,  it  should  be 
mentioned  that  the  badge  of  the  society  is  a 

*  Some  interesting  details  in  regard  to  the  Order  of  the  Cin 
cinnati,  arc  contained  in  Kapp's  "  Life  of  Baron.  Steuben,"  p. 
55S,  etc. 


222  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

bald  eagle,  suspended  by  a  blue  ribbon  edged 
with  white,  emblematic  of  the  union  of  France 
and  America. 

In  a  letter  from  France,  to  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Bache,  written  in  1T84-,  Franklin  thus 
speaks  of  the  Order  of  the  Cincinnati : 

"  My  opinion  of  the  institution  cannot  be  of 
much  importance  ;  I  only  wonder  that,  when 
the  united  wisdom  of  our  nation,  had,  in  the 
articles  of  confederation,  manifested  their  dis 
like  of  establishing  ranks  of  nobility,  by  au 
thority  either  of  Congress,  or  of  any  particu 
lar  State,  a  number  of  private  persons  should 
think  proper  to  distinguish  themselves  and 
their  posterity,  from  their  fellow-citizens,  and 
form  an  order  of  hereditary  knights,  in  direct 
opposition  to  the  solemnly  declared  sense  of 
their  country  !  I  imagine  it  must  be  likewise 
contrary  to  the  good  sense  of  most  of  those 
drawn  into  it  by  the  persuasion  of  its  project 
ors,  who  have  been  too  much  struck  with  the 
ribbons  and  crosses  they  have  seen  hanging  to 
the  button-holes  of  foreign  officers.  And  I 
suppose  those  who  disapprove  of  it  have  not 
hitherto  given  it  much  opposition,  from  a 
principle  somewhat  like  that  of  your  good 
mother,  relating  to  punctilious  persons,  who 


HONOR  AMONG  THE  CHINESE.      223 

are  always  exacting  little  observances  of  re 
spect  ;  that,  if  people  can  be  pleased  with 
small  matters,  it  is  a  pity  that  they  should  not 
have  them.  In  this  view,  perhaps,  I  should  not 
myself,  if  my  advice  had  been  asked,  have 
objected  to  their  wearing  their  ribbon  and 
badge  themselves  according  to  their  fancy, 
though  I  certainly  should  to  the  entailing  it  as 
an  honor  on  their  posterity.  For  honor,  wor 
thily  obtained  (as  that,  for  example,  of  our 
officers),  is  in  its  nature  a  personal  thing,  and 
incommunicable  to  any  but  those  who  had 
some  share  in  obtaining  it.  Thus,  among  the 
Chinese,  the  most  ancient,  and  from  long  ex 
perience  jthe  wisest  of  nations,  honor  does  not 
descend,  but  ascends.  If  a  man  from  his  learn 
ing,  his  wisdom,  or  his  valor,  is  promoted  by 
the  emperor  to  the  rank  of  mandarin,  his 
parents  are  immediately  entitled  to  all  the 
ceremonies  of  respect  from  the  people,  that 
are  established  as  due  to  the  mandarin  him 
self;  on  the  supposition  that  it  must  have 
been  owing  to  the  education,  instruction,  and 
good  example  afforded  him  by  his  parents, 
that  he  was  rendered  capable  of  serving  the 
public. 

"  The  ascending  honor  is  therefore  useful  to 


224:  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

the  State,  as  it  encourages  parents  to  give  their 
children  a  good  and  virtuous  education.  B-n-t 
the  descending  honor,  to  a  posterity  who  could 
have  no  share  in  obtaining  it,  is  not  only 
groundless  and  absurd,  but  often  hurtful  to 
that  posterity,  since  it  is  apt  to  make  them 
proud,  disdaining  to  be  employed  in  useful  arts, 
and  thence  falling  into  poverty,  and  all  the 
meannesses,  servility,  and  wretchedness  attend 
ing  it ;  which  is  the  present  case  of  much  of 
what  is  called  the  noblesse  in  Europe.  Or  if,  to 
keep  up  the  dignity  of  the  family,  estates  were 
entailed  entire  on  the  eldest  male  heir,  another 
pest  to  industry  and  improvement  of  the  coun 
try  is  introduced,  which  will  be  followed  by 
all  the  odious  mixture  of  pride  and  beggary 
and  idleness,  that  have  half  depopulated  and 
decultivated  Spain  ;  occasioning  continual  ex 
tinction  of  families  by  the  discouragements  of 
marriage,  and  neglect  in  the  improvement  of 
estates.  I  wish,  therefore,  that  the  Cincinnati, 
if  they  must  go  on  with  their  project,  would 
direct  the  badges  of  their  order  to  be  worn  by< 
their  fathers  and  mothers,  instead  of  handing 
them  down  to  their  children.  It  would  'be  a 
good  precedent,  and  might  have  good  effects. 
It  would  also  be  a  kind  of  obedience  to  the 


THE   BALD    EAGLE.  225 

fourth  commandment,  in  which  God  enjoins 
us  to  honor  our  father  and  mother,  but  has  no 
where  directed  us  to  honor  our  children.  And 
certainly  no  mode  of  honoring  those  immediate 
authors  of  our  being  can  be  more  effectual, 
than  that  of  doing  praiseworthy  actions,  which 
reflect  honor  on  those  who  gave  us  our  educa 
tion  ;  or  more  becoming,  than  that  of  manifest 
ing,  by  some  public  expression  or  token,  that 
it  is  to  their  instruction  and  example  we 

ascribe  the  merit  of  those  actions 

The  gentleman  who  made  the  voyage  to. 
France  to  provide  the  ribbons  and  medals, 
has  executed  his  commission.  To  me  they 
seem  tolerably  done ;  but  all  such  things  are 
criticised.  Some  find  fault  with  the  Latin,  as 
wanting  classical  elegance  and  correctness ; 
and,  since  our  nine  universities  were  not  able 
to  furnish  better  Latin,  it  was  a  pity,  they  say, 
that  the  mottoes  had  not  been  in  English.  Oth 
ers  object  to  the  title,  as  not  properly  assuina- 
ble  by  any  but  General  Washington,  and  a  few 
others,  who  served  without  pay.  Others  ob- 
jeot  to  the  bald  eagle,  as  looking  too  much  like 
a  dindon  or  turkey.  For  my  own  part,  I  wish 
the  bald  eagle  had  not  been,  chosen  as  the  rep 
resentative  of  our  country ;  he  is  a  bird  of  bad 


226  LIFE   OF   FRANKLIN. 

moral  character;  he  does  not  get  his  living 
honestly  ;  you  may  have  seen  him  perched  on 
some  dead  tree,  where,  too  lazy  to  fish  for 
himself,  he  watches  the  labor  of  the  fishing- 
hawk,  and  when  that  diligent  bird  has  at 
length  taken  a  fish,  and  is  bearing  it  to  his 
nest  for  the  support  of  his  mate  and  young 
ones,  the  bald  eagle  pursues  him,  and  takes  it 
from  Jiim.  "With  all  this  injustice  he  is  ne^er 
in  good  case  ;  but,  like  those  among  men  who 
live  by  sharping  and  robbing,  he  is  goner  lly 
poor,  ;>ivi  often  very  lonsy.  Besides,  ho  is  a 
rank  coward ;  the  little  kingbird,  not  bigger 
than  a  sparrow,  attacks  him  boldly,  and  drives 
him  out  of  the  district.  He  is,  therefore,  by 
no  neans,  a  proper  emblem  for  the  brave  and 
honest  Cincinnatiof  America,  who  have  driven 
all  the  kingbirds  from  our  country;  though 
exactly  fit  for  -that  order  of  knights,  which  the 
French  call,  chevaliers  d'industrie.  I  am,  on 
this  account,  not  displeased  that  the  figure  is 
not  known  as  a  bald"  eagle,  but  looks  more 
like  a  turkey.  For  in  truth,  the  turkey  is  in 
comparison  a  much  more  respectable  bird,  and 
wLhal,  a  true  original  native  of  America. 
Eagles  have  been  found  in  all  countries,  but 
the  turkey  was  peculiav  to  ours.  He  is,  be- 


PROGRESS    OF   SCIENCE.  227 

sides  (though  a  little  vain  and  silly,  it  is  true, 
but  not  the  worst  emblem  for  that),  a  bird  of 
courage,  and  would  not  hesitate  to  attack  a 
grenadier  of  the  British  guards,  who  should 
presume  to  invade  his  farmyard  with  a  red 
coat  on." 

It  happened  once  at  a  dinner-party,  at 
which  Franklin  was  present,  that  upon  the 
opening  of  a  bottle  of  wine  which  had  long 
been  sealed  up,  a  dead  fly  was  poured  out. 
The  host  laid  it  in  the  sunshine,  where  it  soon 
became  dry*  and  warm,  and,  after  a  while, 
revived  so  much  as  to  be  able  to  move  its 
wings.  The  doctor  observed  on  seeing  it, 
that  he  should  be  glad  to  awake  after  sleeping 
in  his  grave  for  a  hundred  years  or  more,  that 
he  might  witness  the  progress  which  science 
had  made  since  his  departure  from  the  6arth. 
And  what  wonders  he  would  behold,  could  his 
desire  have  been  granted.  "Had  he  lived  a 
little  more  than  another  fifty  years,  he  would 
have  seen  the  mode  of  popular  education  ini 
tiated  by  the  Spectator,  expanded  into  the 
elaborate  Review,  the  brilliant  Magazine,  the 
Household  Words,  and  Scientific  Journals  of 
the  present  day ;  the  rude  hand-press,  upon 
which  he  arranged  the  miniature  'copy'  of 


228  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

the  New  England  Courant,  transformed  into 
electrotyped  cylinders  worked  by  steam,  and 
throwing  off  thirty  thousand  printed  sheets  an 
hour ;  the  thin  almanac,  with  its  proverbs  and 
calendar  grown  to  a  plethoric  volume,  rich  in 
astronomical  lore  and  the  statistics  of  a  conti 
nent  ;  the  vessel  dependent  on  the  caprice  of 
the  winds  and  an  imperfect  science  of  naviga 
tion,  self-impelled  with  a  pre-calculated  rate 
of  speed,  and  by  the  most  authentic  charts ; 
and  the  subtle  fluid,  that  his  prescience  caught 
up  and  directed  safely  by  a  metal  rod,  sent 
along  leagues  of  wire,  the  silent  and  instant 
messenger  of  the  world !  With  what  keen 
interest  would  he  have  followed  Davy  with 
his  safety-lamp,  into  the  treacherous  mine ; 
accompanied  Fulton  in  his  first  steam-voyage 
up  the  Hudson ;  watched  Daguerre  as  he  made 
his  sun-picture^  ;  seen  the  vineyards  along  the 
Ohio  attest  his  prophetic  advocacy  of  the 
Rhenish  grape-culture;  heard  Miller  discourse 
of  the  '  Old  Red  Sandstone ;'  Morse  explain 
the  telegraph,  or  Maury  the  tidal  laws  !  Chem 
istry,  almost  born  since  his  day,  would  open  a 
new  and  wonderful  realm  to  his  consciousness; 
the  '  Cosmos'  of  Humboldt  would  draw  his  en 
tranced  gaze  down  every  vista  of  natural 


INTRODUCES    BROOM-CORN.  229 

science,  as  if  to  reveal  at  a  glance  a  programme 
of  all  the  great  and  beautiful  secrets  of  the 
universe;  and  the  reckless  enterprise  and  mad 
extravagance  of  his  prosperous  country,  would 
elicit  more  emphatic  warnings  than  Poor 
Richard  breathed  of  old."  * 


*  Tuckerman's  "  Biographical  Essays,"  p.  473.  "  It  is  said 
that  Dr.  Franklin  first  introduced  broom-corn  into  our  country ; 
he  chanced  to  see  a  corn  whisk  in  the  possession  of  a  lady,  and 
while  examining  it  as  a  novelty,  he  spied  a  grain  of  it  still  at 
tached  to  the  stalk.  This  he  took  and  planted."— Dr.  Wm. 
Darlington,  the  eminent  botanist  of  Westchester,  Pa.,  in  his 
u  Agricultural  Botany." 

20 


CHAPTER  NINETEENTH. 

Protest  against  duelling— Franklin's  services  for  his  country 
and  mankind — flis  respect  for  true  religion — False  charges 
refuted— Letter  to  Dr.  Johnson — ^Recognition  of  God's  provi 
dence — Consolations  in  affliction — "  These  are  Thy  doings,  0 
Lord  !" — The  swarm  of  bees— A  test  subscription — Not  blink 
ing  a  troublesome  question — Dr.  Priestley's  influence  discov 
ered — President  Stiles'  catechism — Doubts  on  a  most  impor 
tant  point — More  light  promised. 

IN  the  "  Life  of  General  Washington,"  in  this 
series,  his  opinion  in  regard  to  duelling  is 
given,  as  a  protest  against  those  who  now 
countenance  this  bloodthirsty  and  barbarous 
practice.  Dr.  Franklin's  language  is  scarcely 
less  strong  and  decided. 

"  It  is  astonishing,"  he  says,  "  that  the  mur 
derous  practice  of  duelling  should  continue  so 
long  in  vogue.  Formerly,  when  duels  were 
used  to  determine  lawsuits,  from  an  opinion 
that  Providence  would  in  every  instance  favor 
truth  and  right  with  victory,  they  were  excu 
sable.  At  present,  they  decide  nothing.  How 
can  such  miserable  sinners  as  we  are  entertain 
so  much  pride,  as  to  conceit  that  every  offence 


CHRIST    CHURCH.    PHILADELPHIA. 

Front  Cliaj..  !'.». 


FRANKLIN    AND    WASHINGTON.  231. 

against  our  imagined  honor,  merits  death! 
These  petty  princes,  in  their  own  opinion, 
would  call  that  sovereign  a  tyrant,  who  should 
put  one  of  them  to  death  for  a  little  uncivil 
language,  though  pointed  at  his  sacred  person ; 
yet  every  one  of  them  makes  himself  .judge  in 
his  own  cause,  condemns  "the  offender  without 
a  jury,  and  undertakes  himself  to  be  the 
executioner."  * 

Franklin  was  not  only  the  great  moralist  of 
ante-re  volution  aiy  society,  but  he  was  tlie  re 
claimer  of  that  society  to  the  spirit  of  religious 
forbearance  which  might  have  been  expected 
to  grow  put  of  the  circumstances  of  its  plant 
ing  here,  but  which,  rather,  was  smotheiud  in 
the  birth.  He  wa^  the  projector  of  the  union 
of  theso  States.  TIc  and  "Washington  worked 
out  the  problem  of  independence  antl  confed 
eration.  Without  morals,  religion,  Chri^tiani- 
ty, — the  grand  climax  of  the  social  b-nd, — 
this  Republic  could  not  have  risen.  Notwith 
standing  the  many  evidences  which  Dr.  Frank 
lin  gave  through  life  of  his  respect  for  true 
religion,  efforts  have  often  been  made  to  drag 
him  down  into  tfie  mire  of  infidelity,  and  to 


*  Dr.  Franklin's  writings,  vol.  x.,  p.  107. 


232  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

throw  his  influence  on  the  side  of  evil.  In 
Parton's  "Life  of  Aaron  Burr,"  for  example, 
lie  alludes  euphemistically  to  the  latter,  "  com 
ing  in  contact  with  the,  skepticism  that  was 
then  the  rage  in  Europe,  and  which  had  cap 
tivated  the  Jeffersons  and  Franklins  of  Amer 
ica"  [p.  64].  Now.  this  charge,  so  far  as 
Franklin  is  concerned,  is  simply  false.  Of  all 
the  leaders  among  men,  no  two  can  be  found, 
out  of  the  ranks  of  the  clergy,  whose  lives  and 
writings  show  such  constant  dependence  on 
Divine  Providence,  such  warmth  of  gratitude 
for  God's  mercies  and  blessings,  and  such  un 
affected  inculcation  of  religious  principle  as 
the  basis  of  society,  as  the  lives  and  writings 
of  Franklin  and  "Washington.  These  men 
were  "  giants,"  and  they  did  not  fall-  into  the 
skepticism  of  their  fancies,  and  this  is  significant 
both  of  the  greatness  of  their  characters,  and 
of  the  deptli  of  their  religious  principles. 

The  writer  had  marked  many  passages  in 
Franklin's  works,  which  prove  the  truth  of 
this  position,  but  he  is  sorry  to  be  obliged  to 
omit  the  larger  portion  of  them  for  want  of 
space.  In  writing  to  Dr.  Johnson,  the  first 
president  of  Columbia  College,  in  1750,  he 
remarks :  "  I  think  that  talents  for  the  educa- 


LETTER   TO    HIS    SISTER.  233 

tion  of  youth  are  the  gift  of  God ;  and  that  he 
on  whom  they  are  bestowed,  whenever  a  way 
is  opened  for  the  use  of  them,  is  as  strongly 
called  as  if  he  heard  a  voice  from  Heaven ; 
nothing  more  surely  pointing  out  duty  in  pub 
lic  service,  than  ability  and  opportunity  of 
performing  it." 

Two  years  later,  he  thus  writes  to  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Jane  Mecom,  who  was  mourning  over 
the  loss  of  a  child  :  "  I  am  pleased  to  find 
that,  in  your  troubles,  you  do  n<5t  overlook  the 
mercies  of  God,  and  that  you  consider  as  such 
the  children  that  are  still  spared  to  you.  This 
is  a  right  temper  of  mind,  and  must  be  ac 
ceptable  to  that  beneficent  Being,  who  is  in 
various  ways  continually  showering  down  His 
blessings  upon  many  that  receive  them  as 
things  of  course,  and  feel  no  grateful  senti 
ments  arising  in  their  hearts  on  the  enjoyment 
of  them." 

In  1755,  he  remarks  in  another  letter: 
"Thanks  to  God,  I  never  was  in  better  health. 
I  still  relish  all  the  pleasures  of  life  that  a 
temperate  man  can  in  reason  desire,  and 
through  favor  I  have  them  all  in  my  power. 
This  happy  condition  shall  continue  as  long  as 
God  pleases,  who  knows  what  is  best  for  His 

20* 


234  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

creatures,  and  I  hope  will  enable  me  to  bear 
with  patience  and  dutiful  submission  any 
change  He  may  think  fit  to  make,  that  is  less 
agreeable." 

The  next  year,  on  the  death  of  his  brother 
John,  he  thus  condoles  with  a  member  of  the 
afflicted  family.  "  We  have  lost  a  most  dear 
and  valuable  relation.  But  it  is  the  will  of 
God  and  nature,  that  those  mortal  bodies  be 
laid  aside,  when  the  soul  is  to  enter  into  real 
life.  This  is  father  an  embryo  state,  a  prepa 
ration  for  living.  A  man  is  not  completely 
born  until  he  is  dead.  Why,  then,  should  we 
grieve  that  a  new  child  is  born  among  the 
immortals,  a  new  member  added  to  their  hap 
py  society.'' 

The  influences  of  the  fashionable  skepticism, 
which  would  have  proved  so  dangerous  to  a 
person  of  weaker  judgment,  mad^  QO  change 
in  Dr.  Franklin's  religious  opinionSj  and  he 
was  ready  to  ascribe  the  glory  to  God  for  the 
happy  settlement  of  the  affairs  of  his  beloved 
country. 

In  a  letter  to  Josiah  Quincy,  dated  Passy, 
Sept.  llth,  1783,  he  observes :  "  Considering 
all  our  mistakes  and  mismanagements,  it  is 
wonderful  we  have  finished  our  affairs  so  well, 


ANECDOTE   OF   THE   BEES.  235 

and  so  soon.  Indeed,  I  am  wrong  in  using 
that  expression,  '  we  have  finished  our  affairs 
so  well.'  Our  blunders  have  been  many,  and 
they  serve  to  manifest  the  hand  of  Providence 
more  clearly  in  our  favor;  so  that  we  may 
much  more  properly  say,  '  These  are  Thy  do 
ings,  O  Lord,  and  they  are  marvellous  in  our 
eyes.' " 

In  early  life,  Franklin  had  composed  a  little 
book  of  prayers,  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
using  in  his  devotions,  and  we  mentioned  in  a 
former  chapter,  the  good  example  he  set  in 
still  attending  public  worship,  at  a  very  ad 
vanced  age.  He  wras,  for  a  while,  one  of  the 
vestry  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,*  and 
at  all  times  ready  to  contribute  his  full  share 
towards  the  erection  of  churches,  and  for  other 


*  An  anecdote  is  related,  which  is  in  perfect  keeping  with 
Dr.  Franklin's  character  for  sagacity.  The  project  of  the  erec 
tion  of  another  church  edifice  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  was 
under  discussion,  and  there  were  some  members  of  the  vestry 
who  conscientiously  opposed  it,  in  the  fear  that  the  division  of 
the  congregation  would  too  much  weaken  the  old  church.  But 
Franklin  defended  the  new  enterprise,  and  to  show  that  no  per 
manent  diminution,  but  rather  a  solid  increase  was  to  be  ex- 
fi ected  from  the  measure,  quoted  the  habit  of  the  bees,  of 
swarming,  "  by  which,"  he  said,  "  the  comfort  and  prosperity  of 
the  old  hive  was  increased,  and  a  new  and  flourishing  colony 
established,  to  keep  the  parent  stock  in  countenance." 


236  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

religious  objects.  Among  his  dearest  friends 
he  numbered  Whitefield  and  Bishop  Shipley. 
Strange  society,  indeed,  for  an  irreligious  man, 
as  some  would  persuade  us  that  he  was. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1776,  a  test  subscrip 
tion  was  prepared,  to  be  signed  by  members 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Convention  who  had  as 
sembled  to  frame  a  constitution,  and  which 
read  as  follows : 

"  I,  ,  do  profess  faith  in  God  the  Fa 
ther,  and  in  Jesus  Christ  His  Eternal  Son,  the 
true  God,  and  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  one  God, 
blessed  for  evermore ;  and  do  acknowledge 
the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament  to  be  given  by  Divine  Inspira 
tion." 

This  was  not  only  signed  by  Franklin,  but 
drawn  up  for  the  signature  of  members  at  a 
preliminary  conference,  of  which  he  was  one, 
and,  indeed,  the  first  on  the  list.  It  encoun 
tered  much  opposition,  outside,  and  some  ob 
loquy:  yet  it  does  not  appear  that,  he  or 
others  faltered,  but  rather  the  contrary. 

As  it  is  by  no  means  our  object  to  make  out 
a  case,  but  to  record  nothing  but  the  trutli, 
we  must  say  in  all  frankness,  that  it  is  much 
to  be  regretted  that  the  great  philosopher  did 


FRANKLIN'S  RELIGIOUS  OPINIONS.        237 

not  bestow  more  attention  on  the  evidences  of 
Christianity,  as  he  would  thus  have  been 
saved  from  some  perplexities  and  doubts. 
We  are  not  disposed  to  blink  the  question  at 
all,  that  such  perplexities  and  «doubts  did 
sometimes  disturb  his  mind.  His  intimacy 
with  Dr.  Priestley,*  the  eminent  champion  of 
Unitarianism,  will  account  for  this,  in  no  small 
degree. 

In  1790,  when  Dr.  Franklin  was  eighty-four 
years  of  age,  President  Stiles, f  of  Yale  Col- 


*  Joseph  Priestley  was  born  near  Leeds,  in  England,  in  1733, 
his  parents  being  rigid  Calvinists.  lie  was  a  young  man  of 
promise,  whose  judgment  revolted  at  the  system  of  religion 
which  had  been  taught  him,  and  he  adopted  Unitarian  views, 
soon  afterwards  coming  out  as  a  preacher.  He  became  ac 
quainted  with  Franklin,  in  London,  about  1766,  and  their  sym 
pathy  in  scientific  studies  made  them  warm  friends.  It  will  be 
needless  to  give  Dr.  Priestley's  history  in  detail.  Of  his  abili 
ties  there  can  be  no  question.  Franklin  would,  however,  have 
been  saved  from  some  perplexing  doubts,  had  he  heard  less  of 
the  unsound  doctrine  of  the  Unitarian  divine. 

t  Soon  after  Franklin  had  made  his  first  experiments  in  elec 
tricity,  he  sent  an  electrical  apparatus  to  Yale  College,  where 
Mr.  Stiles  was  then  a  tutor.  The  young  man  entered  at  once 
with  great  zeal  upon  the  new  field  of  philosophical  investiga 
tion,  and  performed  the  earliest  electrical  experiments  ever 
made  in  N  ew  England.  In  1778,  Dr.  Stiles  was  chosen  pres 
ident  of  the  college.  Many  years  before  this  (1755),  be  had 
pronounced  a  L'atin  oration  in  honor  of  Dr.  Franklin,  on  oc 
casion  of  his  visiting  New  Haven,  and  their  friendship  wus 


238  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

lege,  wrote  to  him,  making  particular  inquiries 
about  his  religious  opinions.  It  is  true,  they 
had  long  been  acquainted  with  each  other, 
but  there  never  could  have  been  much  con 
geniality  between  the  good-humored  philoso 
pher  and  the  stern,  unbending  Puritan. 

Dr.  Franklin  returned  a  polite  answer  to  the 
president's  catechism,  but  there  appears  to  be 
a  little  dry  sarcasm  under  the  garb  of  very 
simple  language  when  he  remarks,  that  it  was 
the  first  time  in  his  life  that  he  had  ever  been 
questioned  aboat  his  religious  opinions  before. 
He  then  goes  on  to  declare  his  belief  in  the 
unity  and  moral  government  of  God,  and  the 
paramount  "  system  of  morals  and  religion"  of 
"  Jesus  of  Nazareth,"  as  the  "  best  the  world 
ever  saw,  or  is  likely  to  see,"  and  concludes 
by  saying  that  he  had  entertained  some  doubts 
of  the  Saviour's  Divinity.  "This  is  a  ques 
tion,"  remarks  the  doctor,  "  I  do  not  dogmatize 
upon,  having  never  studied  it,  and  think  it 
needless  to  busy  myself  with  it  now,  when  I 
expect  soon  an  opportunity  of  knowing  the 
truth  with  less  trouble." 

This  was  only  five  weeks  before  the  sum- 
uninterrupted  only  by  death.  (See  "  Sprague'ef  Annals,"  vol.  i., 
p.  471.) 


FRANKLIN'S  RELIGIOUS  OPINIONS.        239 

mons  came,  for  which  he  1!ad  so  long  and  so 
anxiously  waited.  In  the  account  which  will 
in  due  time  be  given  of  his  last  hours,  we 
think  it  will  be  seen  that  Dr.  Franklin  looked 
to  the  SAVIOUR  of  sinners  for  help,  and  to  HIM 
only. 


CHAPTER  TWENTIETH. 

No  offices  of  profit — Dr.  Franklin  carries  out  his  principles — 
Retirement  from  public  life — A  scene  in  the  domestic  circle 
— Painful  sickness — Farewell  letter  to  President  Washington 
— Patience  in  suffering— Eepeats  Dr.  "Watts'  hymns — Prepar 
ing  to  depart — Picture  of  the  crucifixion — Looking  unto  Jesus 
— Falls  asleep — Account  of  the  funeral — Plain  tombstone — 
Act  of  kindness  for  poor  mechanics — Honors  paid  to  Frank 
lin  after  death— Items  from  the  parish  register  of  Christ 
Church,  Philadelphia — Conclusion. 

DR.  FRANKLIN"  had  long  entertained  the 
opinion  that  in  a  democratic  form  of  gov 
ernment  there  ought  to  be  no  offices  of  profit. 
It  gave  him  such  pleasure  to  serve  his  coun 
try,  that  he  could  hardly  imagine  a  true-born 
son  of  the  republic  less  unselfish  than  himself. 
As  a  proof  of  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  indepen 
dence,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  before  leav 
ing  home  in  1776,  on  his  uncertain  embassy  to 
France,  such  confidence  did  he  feel  as  to  the 
result  of  the  contest  with  England,  that  he 
placed  almost  four  thousand  pounds,  which 
was  all  the  money  he  could  command,  as  a 
loan  at  the  disposal  of  Congress.  The  salary 
which  he  received  as  president  of  Pennsyl- 


241 

vania,  lie  appropriated  to  some  object  of  gen 
eral  utility ;  and,  taking  the  fifty  years  of  his 
public  life  together,  the  amount  of  compensa 
tion  was  not  enough  to  cover  his  actual  ex 
penses. 

His  third  and  last  year's  service  as  presi 
dent  of  Pennsylvania  expired  in  October, 
1788,  after  which  he  held  no  office,  although 
he  was  often  consulted  about  public  measures. 

"We  have  a  pleasant  picture  of  him  as  he 
appeared  in  domestic  life,  by  a  distinguished 
scholar,  who  spent  an  evening  at  his  house  in 
178T: 

"  Dr.  Franklin  lives  in  Market-street.  His, 
house  stands  up  a  court,  at  some  distance  from 
the  street.  We  found  him  in  his  garden,  sit 
ting  upon  a  grass-plot,  under  a  very  large 
mulberry- tree,  with  several  other  gentlemen, 
and  two  or  three  ladies.  When  Mr.  Gerry  in 
troduced  me,  he  rose  from  his  chair,  took  me 
by  the  hand,  expressed  his  joy  at  seeing  me, 
welcomed  me  to  the  city,  and  begged  me  to 
seat  myself  close  to  him.  His  voice  was  low,  *-; 
but  his  countenance  open,  frank,  and  pleasing. 
I  delivered  to  him  my  letters.  After  he  had 
read  them,  he  took  me  again  by  the  hand,  and, 
with  the  usual  compliments,  introduced  me  to 

21 


242  LIFE   OF   FRAOTLHT. 

the  other  gentlemen,  who  are  most  of  them 
members  of  the  convention. 

"  Here  we  entered  into  a  free  conversation, 
and  spent  our  time  most  agreeably,  until  it 
was  quite  dark.  The  tea-table ,  was  spread 
under  the  tree,  and  Mrs.  Bache,  who  is  the 
only  daughter  of  the  doctor,  and  lives  with 
him,  served  it  out  to  the  company.  She  had 
three  of  her  children  about  her.  They  seemed 
to  be  excessively  fond  of  their  grandpapa. 
The  doctor  showed  me  a  curiosity  he  had  just 
received,  and  with  which  he  was  much  pleased. 
It  was  a  snake  with  two  heads,  preserved  in  a 
large  vial.  It  was  taken  near  the  confluence 
of  the  Schuylkill  with  the  Delaware,  about 
four  miles  from  this  city.  It  was  about  ten 
inches  long,  well  proportioned,  the  heads  per 
fect,  and  united  to  the  body  about  one-fourth 
of  an  inch  below  the  extremities  of  the  jaws. 
The  snake  was  of  a  dark  brown,  approaching 
to  black,  and  the  back  beautifully  speckled 
with  white.  The  belly  was  rather  checkered 
with  a  reddish  color  and  white.  The  doctor 
supposed  it  to  be  full  grown,  which  I  think 
is  probable;  and  he  thinks  it  must  be  a  sui 
generis  of  that  class  of  animals.  He  grounds 
his  opinion  of  its  not  being  an  extraordinary 


SECEECY    IN    THE   CONVENTION.  243 

production,  but  a  distinct  genus,  on  the  per 
fect  form  of  the  snake,  the  probability  of  its 
being  of  some  age,  and  there  having  been 
found  a  snake  entirely  similar — of  which  the 
doctor  has  a  drawing,  which  he  showed  us — 
near  Lake  Cliamplain,  in  the  time  of  the  late 
war.  He  mentioned  the  situation  of  this 
snake,  if  it  was  travelling  among  bushes,  and 
one  head  should  choose  to  go  on  one  side  of 
the  stem  of  a  bush,  and  the  other  head  should 
prefer  the  other  side,  and  neither  of  the  heads 
would  consent  to  come  back,  or  give  way  to 
the  other.  He  was  then  going  to  mention  a 
humorous  matter  that  had  that  day  occurred 
in  the  convention,  in  consequence  of  his  com 
paring  the  snake  to  America ;  for  he  seemed 
to  forget  that  every  thing  in  the  convention 
was  to  be  kept  a  profound  secret.  But  the 
secrecy  of  convention  matters  was  suggested 
to  him,  which  stopped  him,  and  deprived  me 
of  the  story  he  was  going  to  tell.  After  it 
was  dark,  we  went  into  the  house,  and  he  in 
vited  me  into  his  library,  which  is  likewise  his 
study.  It  is  a  very  large  chamber,  and  high 
studded.  The  walls  are  covered  with  book 
shelves,  filled  with  books;  besides,  there  are 
four  large  alcoves,  extending  two-thirds  the 


244  LIFE    OF   FEANKLIN. 

length  of  tlie  chamber,  filled  in  the  same  man 
ner.  I  presume  this  is  the  largest  and  by 
far  the  best  private  library  in  America.  He 
showed  us  a  glass  machine  for  exhibiting  the 
circulation  of  the  blood  in  the  arteries  and 
veins  of  the  human  body.  The  circulation  is 
exhibited  by  the  passing  of  a  red  fluid  from  a 
reservoir  into  numerous  capillary  tubes  of 
glass,  ramified  in  every  direction,  and  then 
returning  in  similar  tubes  to  the  reservoir, 
which  was  done  with  great  velocity,  without 
any  power  to  act  visibly  upon  the  fluid,  and 
had  the  appearance  of  perpetual  motion. 

"Another  great  curiosity  was  a  rolling-press 
for  taking  the  copies  of  letters  or  any  other 
writing.  A  sheet  of  paper  'is  completely 
copied  in  less  than  two  minutes — the  copy  as 
fair  as  the  original,  and  without  defacing  it  in 
the  smallest  degree.  It  is  an  invention  of  his 
own,  extremely  useful  in  many  situations  of 
life.  He  also  showed  us  his  long,  artificial 
arm  and  hand  for  taking  down  and  putting 
up  books  on  high  shelves  which  are  out  of 
reach ;  and  his  great  arm-chair,  with  rockers, 
and  a  large  fan  placed  over  it,  with  which  he 
fans  himself,  keeps  off  the  flies,  &c.,  while  he 
sits  reading,  with  only  a  small  motion  of  the 


245 

foot;  and  many  other  curiosities  and  inven 
tions,  all  his  own,  but  of  less  note.  Over  his 
mantel  he  has  a  prodigious  number  of  medals, 
busts,  and  casts  in  wax  or  plaster  of  Paris, 
which  are  the  eftgies  of  the  most  noted  char 
acters  in  Europe. 

"  But  what  the  doctor  wished  principally  to 
show  me  was  a  huge  volume  on  botany,  which 
indeed  afforded  me  the  greatest  pleasure  of 
any  thing  in  his  library.  It  was  a  single 
volume,  but  so  large  that  it  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  he  was  able  to  raise  it  from  a 
low  shelf  and  lift  it  on  the  table.  But  with 
that  senile  ambition  which,  is  common  to  old 
people,  he  insisted  on  doing  it  himself,  and 
would  permit  no  person  to  assist  him,  merely 
to  show  us  how  much  strength  he  had  remain 
ing.  It  contained  the  whole  of  Linnseus's 
"Systems  Yegetabilium,"  with  large  cuts  of 
every  plant,  colored  from  nature.  It  was  a 
feast  to  me,  and  the  doctor  seemed  to  enjoy 
it  as  well  as  myself.  We  spent  a  couple  of 
hours  in  examining  this  volume,  while  the 
other  gentlemen  amused  themselves  with  other 
matters.  The  doctor  is  not  a  botanist,  but 
lamented  he  did  not  in  early  life  attend  to  this 
science.  He  delights  in  Natural  History,  and 

21* 


246  LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

expressed  an  earnest  wish  that  I  should  pursue 
the  plan  that  I  had  begun,  and  hoped  this  sci 
ence,  so  much  neglected  in  America,  would  be 
pursued  with  as  much  ardor4here  as  it  is  now 
in  every  part  of  Europe.  I  wanted  for  three 
months  at  least  to  have  devoted  myself  en 
tirely  to  this  one  volume  ;  but  fearing  lest  I 
should  be  tedious  to  him,  I  shut  up  the  vol 
ume,  though  he  urged  me  to  examine  it  longer. 
He  seemed  extremely  fond,  through  the  course 
of  the  visit,  of  dwelling  on  philosophical  sub 
jects,  and  particularly  that  of  Natural  History, 
while  the  other  gentlemen  were  swallowed  up 
with  politics.  This  was  a  favorable  circum 
stance  for  me ;  for  almost  the  whole  of  his  con 
versation  was  addressed"  to  me,  and  I  was 
highly  delighted  with  the  extensive  knowl 
edge  he  appeared  to  have  of  every  subject, 
the  brightness  of  his  memory,  and  clearness 
and  vivacity  of  all  his  mental  faculties,  not 
withstanding  his  age.  His  manners  are  per 
fectly  easy,  and  every  thing  about  him  seems 
to  diffuse  an  unrestrained  freedom  and  happi 
ness.  He  has  an  incessant  vein  of  humor,  ac 
companied  with  an  uncommon  vivacity,  which 
seems  as  natural  and  involuntary  as  his  breath 
ing.  He  urged  me  to  call  on  him  again,  but 


LETTER   TO    PRESIDENT   WASHINGTON. 


247 


my  short  stay  would  not  admit.     "We  took  our 
leave  at  ten,  and  I  retired  to  my  lodgings." 

Dr.  Franklin  had  now  been  an  invalid  for 
several  years,  and  often  suffered  acute  bodily 
pain.  He  refers  to  his  health  in  a  letter  to 
President  Washington,*  written  on  the  16th 
of  September,  1789 : 

"  My  malady  renders  my  sitting  up  to  write 
rather  painful  to  me;  but  I  cannot  let  my 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Bache,  depart  for  ]STew  York 
without  congratulating  you  by  him  on  the 
recovery  of  your  health,  so  precious  to  us  all, 
and  on  the  growing  strength  of  our  new  gov 
ernment  under  your  administration. 

"  For  my  own  personal  ease,  I  should  have 
died  two  years  ago ;  but,  though  those  years 
have  been  spent  in  excruciating  pain,  I  am 
pleased  that  I  have  lived  them,  since  they 
have  brought  me  to  see  our  present  situation. 
I  am  now  finishing  my  eighty-fourth  year, 
and  probably  with  it  my  career  in  this  life; 
but,  in  whatever  state  of  existence  I  am  placed 


*  "  My  fine  crab-tree  walking-stick,  with  a  gold  head  curi 
ously  wrought  in  the  form  of  the  cap  of  liberty,  I  give  to  my 
friend,  and  the  friend  of  mankind,  GENERAL  WASHINGTON.  If 
it  were  a  sceptre,  he  has  merited  it,  and  would  become  it."— 
Dr.  Franklin's  Will. 


248  LIFE    OF   FRANKLIN. 

hereafter,  if  I  retain  any  memory  of  what 
has  passed  here,  I  shall  with  it  retain  the 
esteem,  respect,  and  affection,  with  which  I 
have  long  been,  my  dear  friend,  yours  most 
sincerely." 

Although  Dr.  Franklin  continued  to  suffer 
extremely  from  disease,  there  was  no  decided 
change  in  his  condition  until  early  in  April, 
1790,  when  he  was  attacked  with  a  fever,  and 
a  pain  in  the  breast.  Sick  and  feeble  as  he 
was,  the  intervals  of  quiet  between  the  vio 
lent  paroxysms  of  pain  were  spent  in  read 
ing,  and  in  cheerful  conversation  with  his 
friends. 

Occasionally,  when  a  groan  escaped  him,  he 
would  meekly  observe  that  he  was  afraid  he 
did  not  bear  his  sufferings  as  he  ought,  fre 
quently  expressing  his  grateful  sense  of  obliga 
tion  to  God  for  His  unnumbered  mercies. 

A  friend  came  in  one  day,  and  found  him  in 
great  agony ;  when  this  had  abated  somewhat, 
he  desired  her  to  read  to  him.  The  first  book 
she  saw  was  Johnson's  "  Lives  of  the  Poets," 
and  turning  to  the  sketch  of  Dr.  "Watts,  who 
was  a  favorite  with  the  sick  man,  she  read  it 
aloud,  supposing  that  it  would  lull  him  to 
sleep.  Instead  of  this,  it  roused  him  to  a  dis- 


ANECDOTE  OF  FRANKLIN.  249 

play  of  the  powers  of  memory  and  reason,  and 
he  repeated  several  of  Watts'  hymns  with 
great  feeling.* 

Dr.  Franklin  continued  to  speak  of  his  ap 
proaching  departure,  not  only  with  composure, 
but  with  cheerfulness,  and  when  his  daughter 
expressed  the  wish  that  he  might  yet  recover, 
and  live  many  years  longer,  he  calmly  replied, 
"  I  hope  not." 

The  following  interesting  particulars  were 
obtained  from  Dr.  Helmuth  of  the  German 
Church,  Philadelphia.  Hearing  that  this 
learned  and  pious  divine  possessed  a  valuable 
anecdote  of  Dr.  Franklin,  I  immediately  wait 
ed  on  him.  "Yes,  sir,"  said  he,  "  I  have  indeed 
a  valuable  anecdote  of  Dr.  Franklin,  which  I 
would  tell  you  with  great  pleasure ;  but  as  I 
do  not  speak  English  very  well,  I  wish  you 
would  call  on  David  Ritter,  at  the  sign  of  the 


*  It  is  worth  recording  here,  that  in  1782,  a  friend  sent  Dr. 
Franklin  a  copy  of  Cowper's  Poems,  a  book,  in  some  respects, 
quite  in  harmony  with  the  "Lyric  Poems"  of  Watts.  The 
present  was  highly  appreciated,  and  he  replied,  "  The  relish  for 
reading  poetry  had  long  since  left  me  ;  but  there  is  something 
so  new  in  the  manner,  so  easy,  and  yet  so  correct  in  the  lan 
guage,  so  clear  in  the  expression,  yet  concise,  and  so  just  in  the 
sentiments,  that  I  have  read  the  whole  with  great  pleasure,  and 
some  of  the  pieces  more  than  once." — Sparks,  vol.  ix.,  p.  221. 


250  LIFE   OF   FRANKLIN. 

4  Golden  Lamb,'  in  Front-street,  he  will  tell  it 
to  you  better."  I  hastened  to  Mr.  Hitter,  and 
told  him  my  errand.  He  seemed  mightily 
pleased  at  it,  and  said,  "  Yes,  I  will  tell  you  all 
I  know  of  it.  You  must  understand  then,  sir, 
first  of  all,  that  I  always  had  a  prodigious 
opinion  of  Dr.  Franklin,  as  the  usefulest  man 
we  ever  had  among  us,  by  a  long  way ;  and 
so,  hearing  that  he  was  sick,  I  thought  I  would 
go  and  see  him.  As  I  rapped  at  the  door,  who 
should  come  and  open  it  but  old  Sarah  Hum 
phries.  I  was  right  glad  to  see  her,  for  I  had 
known  her  for  a  long  time.  She  was  of  the 
people  called  Friends ;  and  a  good  sort  of  a 
body  she  was  toov  The  great  people  set  a 
heap  of  store  by  her,  for  she  was  famous 
throughout  the  town  for  nursing  and  tending 
on  the  sick.  Indeed,  many  of  them,  I  believe, 
thought  they  could  not  sicken  and  die  right,  if 
they  had  not  old  Sarah  Humphries  with  them. 
Soon  as  she  saw  me,  she  said,  '  Well,  David, 
how  dost?' 

"  '  Oh,  much  after  the  old  sort,  Sarah,'  said 
I;  'but  that's  neither  here  nor  there;  I  am 
come  to  see  Dr.  Franklin.' 

"  'Well,  then,'  said  she,  <  thou  art  too  late, 
for  he  is  just  dead  f 


DEATH   OF   FKANKLIN.  251 

"  <  A-lack-a-day,'  said  I,  <  then  a  great  man 
is*gone.' 

"  4Yes,  indeed,'  said  she,  'and  a  good  one 
too  ;  for  it  seemed  as  though  he  never  thought 
the  day  went  away  if  he  had  not  done  some 
body  a  service,  However,  David,'  said  she, 
4  he  is  not  the  worse  off  for  all  that  now,  where 
he  has  gone  to ;  but  come,  as  thee  came  to  see 
Benjamin  Franklin,  thee  shall  see  him  yet/ 
And  so  she  took  me  into  his  room.  As  we 
entered  she  pointed  to  him,  where  he  lay  on 
his  bed,  and  said,  'There,  did  thee  ever  see 
any  thing  look  so  natural  ?' 

"And  he  did  look  natural,  indeed.  His 
eyes  were  closed.  But  that  you  saw  he  did 
not  breathe,  you  would  have  thought  he  was 
in  a  sweet  sleep,  he  looked  so  calm  and  happy. 
Observing  that  his  face  was  fixed  right  towards 
the  chimney,  I  cast  my  eyes  that  way,  and  be 
hold  !  just  above  the  mantel -piece  was  a  noble 
picture.  Oh,  it  was  a  noble  picture,  sure 
enough !  it  was  the  picture  of  our  Saviour  on 
the  cross. 

"  I  could  not  help  calling  out,  '  Bless  us  all, 
Sarah !'  said  I ;  '  what's  all  this  ?' 

1  l  What  dost  mean,  David  ?'  said  she,  quite 
crusty. 


252 


LIFE    OF  FRANKLIN. 


,  how  came  this  picture  here,  Sarah?' 
said  I ;  '  you  know  that  many  people  think*he 
was  not  after  this  sort.' 

"  'Yes,'  said  she,  'I  know  that  too.  But 
thee  knows  that  many  who  make  a  great  fuss 
about  religion  have  very  little,  while  some 
who  say  but  little  about  it  have  a  good  deal.' 

*  '  That's  sometimes  the  case,  I  fear,  Sarah,' 
said  I. 

"  <  Well,  and'  that  was  the  case,'  said  she, 
'with  Benjamin  Franklin.     But,  be  that  as  it 
may,  David,  since  thee  asks  me  about  this 
great  picture,  I'll  tell  thee  how  it  came  here. 
Many  weeks  ago,  as  he  lay,  he  beckoned  me 
to  him,  and  told  me  of  this  picture  up-stairs, 
and  begged  I  would  bring  it  to  him.    I  brought 
it  to  him.     His  face  brightened  up  as  he  look 
ed  at  it,  and  he  said,  "  Ay,  Sarah,  there's  a 
picture  worth  looking  at !  that's  the  picture  of 
Him  who  came  into  the  world  to  teach  men  to 
love  one  another !"     Then  after  looking  at  it 
wistfully  for  some  time,  he  said,  "Sarah,  set 
this  picture  up  over  the  mantel-piece,  right 
before  me  as  I  lie,  for  I  like  to  look  at  it;"  and 
when  I  fixed  it  up,  he  looked  at  it,  and  looked 
at  it  very  much ;  and  indeed,  as  thou  seest,  he 
died  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  it !'  " 


FKANEXIN'S  FUNERAL.  253 

On  Saturday,  the  17th  of  April,  1790,  about 
eleven  o'clock  at  night,  Dr.  Franklin  quietly 
breathed  his  last,  closing  a  long  and  useful  life 
of  eighty-four  years  and  three  months.  The 
funeral  took  place  on  the  afternoon  of  the  fol 
lowing  Wednesday  ;  an  account  of  which  we 
copy  from  the  Federal  Gazette,  published  the 
next  day : 

"  The  following  was  the  order  of  procession, 
yesterday,  at  the  funeral  of  our  late  learned 
and  illustrious  citizen,  Dr.  Franklin. 

"All  the  clergy  of  the  city,  including  the 
ministers  of  the  Hebrew  congregations,  before 
the  corpse. 

"  The  corpse,  carried  by  citizens ;  the  pall 
supported  by  the  president  of  the  State,  the 
chief-justice,  president  of  the  bank,  Samuel 
Powell,  William  Bingham,  and  David  Kitten- 
house,  Esqrs. 

"  Mourners,  consisting  of  the  family  of  the 
deceased,  with  a  number  of  particular  friends. 

"  The  secretary  and  members  of  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council. 

"The  speaker  and  members  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

"Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  other 
officers  of  government. 


254:  LIFE  OF  FI:ANI;MNT. 

"  The  gentlemen  of  the  bar. 

"  The  mayor  and  corporation  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia. 

"The  printers  of  the  city,  with  their  jour 
neymen  and  apprentices. 

"The  Philosophical  Society. 

"  The  College  of  Physicians. 

"  The  Cincinnati. 

"  The  College  of  Philadelphia. 

"  And  sundry  other  societies,  together  with 
a  numerous  and  respectable  body  of  citizens. 

"  The  concourse  of  spectators  was  greater 
than  ever  was  known  on  a  like  occasion.  It 
is  computed  that  not  less  than  20,000  persons 
attended  and  witnessed  the  funeral.  The 
order  and  silence  which  prevailed,  during  the 
procession,  deeply  evinced  the  heartfelt  sense 
entertained  by  all  classes  of  citizens,  of  the  un 
paralleled  virtues,  talents,  and  services  of  the 
deceased." 

On  the  day  of  the  funeral  the  flags  of  the 
shipping  in  port  were  at  half-mast,  and  the 
public  demonstrations  of  respect  for  the  mem 
ory  of  the  deceased  were  general.  A  long 
panegyric  on  the  virtues  of  Franklin  was  pub 
lished  in  the  Federal  Gazette  on  the  day  of  the 
funeral.  The  conclusion  of  it  was  as  follows  : 


BENEVOLENCE  OF  FRANKLIN.       255 

"  Then  Pennsylvania !  every  tribute  pay  ; 

Erect  the  sculptured  marble  o'er  his  clay  : 
Thus  youth  at  equal  praise  may  boldly  aim, 
And  catch  at  Franklin's  tomb  Worth's  hallow' d  flame." 

Franklin  had  directed  in  his  will,  that  a 
plain  stone,  six  feet  by  four,  should  be  placed 
over  his  and  his  wife's  grave,  with  the  follow 
ing  inscription,  which  is  yet  to  be  seen  mark 
ing  the  spot. 

BENJAMIN  \ 

AND          VFEANKLIN. 
DEBOKAH  ) 

1790. 

Instead  of  spending  his  money  foolishly  in 
a  costly  monument,  he  left  a  handsome  sum 
the  interest  of  which  was  to  be  loaned  to  poor 
young  men  just  starting  in  business  as  me 
chanics,  in  Boston  and  Philadelphia.  This 
evidence  of  his  kindness  yet  remains. 

As  Dr.  Franklin's  name  has  been  frequently 
mentioned  in  this  memoir  in  connection  with 
Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  the  reader  will 
be  glad  to  peruse  these  items,  collected  from 
the  Parish  Eegister,  by  the  venerable  Dr. 
Dorr,  the  present  rector. 

"  It  would  appear  from  the  records  that  he 
was  a  pew-holder  there,  from  about  the  time 
of  his  marriage,  in  1730,  to  the  period  of  his 
decease,  in  1790;  that  is,  for  sixty  years. 


256  LIFE    OF   FKANKLIN. 

The  records  show  the  baptism  of  two  of  his 
children,  Francis  Folger,  Sept.  16th,  1733,  and 
Sarah,  Oct.  27th,  1743 ;  also  the  marriage  of 
his  daughter  Sarah  to  Richard  Bache,  Oct. 
29th,  1767. 

"  His  son  Francis  was  buried  in  Christ  Church 
ground,  Nov.,  1736  ;  his  wife,  Dec.  22d,  1774 ; 
himself,  April  21st,  1790 ;  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Bache,  Oct.  7th,  1808;  and  her  husband, 
Richard  Bache,  July  30th,  1811.  These  all 
lie  by  the  side  of  each  other. 

"  In  1739,  a  subscription  paper  was  drawn 
up,  for  raising  funds  to  finish  the  new  church, 
and  Dr.  Franklin's  name  appears  on  the  sub 
scription  list.  He  also  subscribed,  in  1751, 
towards  building  a  steeple  and  purchasing  a 
chime  of  bells. 

"  In  1752,  and  again  in  1753,  he  was  ap 
pointed  by  vestry  one  of  thirteen  managers  of 
a  lottery,  to  raise  twelve  hundred  pounds,  for 
finishing  the  steeple  and  paying  for  the  bells. 

"  The  pew  in  Christ  Church,  which  he  held  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  he  had  rented  for  thirty 
years,  at  least,  and  probably  much  longer.  It 
was  afterwards  held  by  his  children,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bache.  It  is  now  pew  No.  25,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  middle  aisle." 


EULOGY    BY    MIRABEAU.  257 

Congress  was  in  session  in  New  York  at  the 
time  of  Franklin's  death.  On  receipt  of  the 
intelligence,  a  resolution  was  passed  that  the 
members  should  wear  the  customary  badge  of 
mourning  one  month,  as  a  mark  of  the  venera 
tion  due  to  the  memory  of  a  citizen  "  whose 
native  genius  was  not  more  an  ornament  to 
human  nature  than  his  various  exertions  of  it 
have  been  to  science,  to  freedom,  and  to  his 
country." 

"When  the  decease  of  the  philosopher  and 
statesman  was  known  in  France,  it  was  an 
nounced  in  the  National  Assembly  by  M.  Mi- 
rabeau,  the  elder,  who  proposed,  after  a  burst 
of  eulogy  full  of  the  spirit  of  the  age  and  the 
enthusiasm  of  a  Frenchman,  that  the  Assembly 
should  wear  mourning  for  three-  days,  to  "  par 
ticipate  in  the  homage  rendered  in  the  face  of 
the  universe  to  the  rights  of  man,  and  to  the 
philosopher  who  had  so  eminently  propagated 
the  conquest  of  them  throughout  the  world." 
The  proposition  was  seconded  by  Rochefou 
cauld  and  Lafayette,  and  adopted  by  acclama 
tion.  It  was  also  resolved  that  the  address 
of  Mirabeau  should  be  printed,  and  that  a 
letter  of  condolence  should  be  addressed  to 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  This  duty 

22* 


258  LIFE   OF    FRANKLIN. 

was  performed  by  the  President  of  the  Assem 
bly  :  and  upon  the  receipt  of  the  letter,  Con 
gress,  by  resolution,  desired  President  Wash 
ington  to  "  communicate  to  the  National  As 
sembly  of  France  the  peculiar  sensibility  of 
Congress  to  the  tribute  paid  to  the  memory  of 
Benjamin  Franklin  by  the  enlightened  and 
free  representatives  of  a  great  nation ;"  and 
"Washington,  in  his  answer,  happily  acknowl 
edged  this  peculiar  proof  of  national  courtesy. 

We  need  pronounce  no  eulogium  upon  Dr. 
Franklin.  May  the  young  men  of  this,  and  of 
succeeding  generations,  strive  to  emulate  his 
virtues. 


THE    END. 


LIFE   OF    WASHINGTON. 


LIFE  OF  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

BY  THE  KEY.  J.  N.  NORTON. 


Notices  of  tjje  $=)ress. 

IN  our  boyish  days,  Weems'  Life  of  Washington  was  the 
delight  of  all  the  juniors,  and  the  warm,  glowing  pages 
of  the  eccentric  parson  have  fired  the  patriotism  of  many 
a  boy,  and  of  many  a  girl,  too.  That  work  has  nearly  or 
quite  disappeared.  For  a  long  time  there  has  been  no 
good  Life  of  Washington  in  the  market  short  enough  for 
the  use  of  those  who  have  neither  money  to  purchase  nor 
time  to  read  the  great- works  of  Marshall,  Sparks,  and 
Irving.  The  Church  Book  Society  of  New  York  has  con 
ferred  a  benefit  updn  the  whole  people  of  the  United 
States  by  employing  the  ever  ready  pen  of  our  friend  and 
neighbor,  the  Kev.  J.  N.  Norton,  of  Frankfort,  Ky.,  to 
supply  this  desideratum.  The  result  is  an  exceedingly 
pleasant  and  instructive  duodecimo  volume  of  four  hun 
dred  pages,  which  young  and  old  of  all  classes  can  read 
with  delight. — Louisville  Journal. 

All  who  are  familiar  with  the  other  able  and  interesting 
works  of  the  author,  will  be  glad  to  see  that  he  has  em 
ployed  his  pen  in  preparing  for  the  young  a  Life  of  the 
"  father  of  his  country."  We  take  pleasure  in  commend 
ing  it  to  their  attention. — Christian  Witness. 
50 


LIFE  OF  WASHINGTON. 

The  author  of  this  work— the  Kev.  Mr.  Norton,  of 
Frankfort,  Ky. ,  to  whom,  we  are  indebted  for  many  excel 
lent  volumes — while  so  shaping  the  narrative  that  Wash 
ington,  as  a  man  and  a  Christian,  should  not  be  over 
shadowed  by  the  military  hero,  has  also,  within  a  brief 
space,  recorded  the  principal  events  of  his  life,  in  a  man 
ner  which  can  not  fail  to  interest  all  classes  of  readers. — 
Chicago  Record. 

In  this  volume,  better  than  in  any  other  brief  biography 
of  Washington,  are  brought  out  the  depth  and  strength 
of  his  religious  convictions,  and  the  steadiness  with  which 
his  profession  as  a  Churchman  was  maintained  throughout 
life.  Moreover,  it  shows  in  how  great  a  degree  the  strong 
leading  outlines  of  his  character  were  influenced,  if  not 
moulded,  by  the  system  of  the  Church— imperfectly  as  it 
was  then  understood  and  carried  out  in  many  important 
particulars.  These  peculiarities  give  a  very  desirable  and 
proper  tone  to  Mr.  Norton's  work,  though  they  do  not 
usurp  an  undue  share  of  attention.  The  narrative  of  the 
two  great  wars  in  which  Washington  was  engaged,  and  of 
the  other  leading  incidents  in  his  career,  is  marked  by  all 
the  author's  well-known  ease,  deafness,  and  spirit. — 
Church  Journal. 

Of  all  the  Lives  of  Washington  which  have  been  given 
to  the  public,  none  has  pleased  us  more  than  the  one  now 
before  us,  as  being  specially  adapted  for  the  perusal  of  the 
young.  The  noble  character  of  Washington,  the  pure 
motives  which  influenced  his  conduct  from  the  commence 
ment  of  his  career  till  the  day  of  his  death,  his  indomita 
ble  perseverance  under  the  most  discouraging  circum 
stances,  and  last,  but  far  from  least,  his  religious  character, 
render  him  a  fit  model  to  be  placed  before  the  rising 
generation  for  their  admiration  and  imitation. — Churchman. 
51 


LIFE   OF  WASHINGTON. 

The  religious  character,  the  Churchmanship  of  Washing 
ton  is  brought  out  in  this  volume.  This  is  done  in  a  just 
and  admirable  manner,  and  it  is  in  this  light  that  this 
great  man  should  .be  viewed  and  contemplated  by  the 
youth  of  our  country.  It  is  a  life.  It  makes  us  know 
Washington,  from  first  to  last,  with  sufficient  detail  and 
incident.  The  style  is  excellent,  and  the  narrative  sus 
tains  a  full  interest  to  the  end.  It  is  a  remarkably  good 
book,  and  should  be  the  delight  of  all  the  youth  in  our 
Church.  Mr.  Norton's  books  are  all  good,  but  this  one 
has  a  special  interest,  and  evinces  great  industry  and  in 
quiry  in  the  preparation  of  it.  No  Sunday  School  Library, 
no  family  should  be  without  it. — Banner  of  the  Cross. 

This  is  a  new  volume  of  four  hundred  pages,  and  will  no 
doubt  interest  the  class  of  readers  for  whose  benefit  it  has 
been  written.  Its  main  design,  while  recording  the  prom 
inent  events  in  the  life  of  "  the  father  of  his  country,"  is 
to  show  that  Washington  the  man  and  the  Christian 
should  not  be  overshadowed  by  Washington  the  military 
hero. —  Western  Episcopalian. 

We  have  here  the  latest  of  the  series  of  biographies 
which  Mr.  Norton  has  been  issuing  for  the  past  few  years. 
Mr.  Norton's  very  pleasant  style  is  exhibited  in  this  as  in 
his  previous  works,  and  we  think  that  in  his  attempt  "  to 
present  a  biography  which  shall  at  once  be  interesting 
and  improving  to  readers  of  every  class,"  he  has  succeeded 
remarkably  well. — Episcopal  Recorder. 

For  young  persons,  this  is  the  best  Life  of  Washington 
we  have  seen.  The  important  and  interesting  incidents  in 
the  history  of  that  great  and  good  man  are  grouped  to 
gether  with  skill,  while  the  attention  of  the  reader  is 
always  pointed  to  the  moral  lessons  they  convey.  Wash 
ington's  Churchmanship  is  indicated  in  language  not  to  be 
mistaken . — Gospel  Messenger. 

52 


LIFE    OF   WASHINGTON. 

The  Church  has  been,  and  continues  to  be,  much  in 
debted  to  Mr.  Norton  for  furnishing,  and  to  the  Church 
Book  Society  for  publishing, 'much  of  deep  interest  to  the 
evangelical  and  catholic  cause.  The  records  of  the  life  of 
George  Washington  should  be  kept  fresh,  and  in  abundant 
supply,  for  successive  generations,  and  extensive  circula 
tion.  The  work  now  before  us,  doing  full  justice  to  every 
other  department  of  that  great  and  good  man's  claims  to 
veneration,  confidence,  and  love,  very  properly  gives 
prominence  to  those  connected  with  his  character  as  a 
Christian.  We  know  of  no  biography  of  Washington  that, 
within  so  limited  a  compass,  gives  a  fuller  and  fairer  view 
of  the  Father  of.  his  Country,  and  the  great  events  and 
circumstances  with  which  he  was  connected  through  life. 
It  is  well  adapted  to  mingle  into  the  studies  of  the  young, 
and  the  reading  of  those  who  have  not  much  time  to 
spare. — Churchman' s  Monthly  Magazine. 

Mr.  Norton  has  done,  and  done  well,  the  noblest  work 
to  which,  as  yet,  he  has  devoted  his  pen,  in  preparing  for 
the  youth  of  our  country  a  "  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  WASHING 
TON."  It  is  full  and  satisfactory  in  just  that  respect  in 
which  Everett' s  graceful  biography  is  defective.  Through 
out  the  narrative,  which  is  very  well  written,  Mr.  Norton 
constantly  bears  testimony  to  that  one  element  in  Wash 
ington's  character  which  emphatically  made  him  what  he 
was— his  personal  piety. 

To  Mr.  Norton,  and  to  the  "Church  Book  Society,"  the 
whole  Church  is  greatly  indebted  for  this  beautiful  vol 
ume,  which  can  not  fail  to  do  great  good. — Church  Review. 
53 


CRITICAL   NOTICES. 


RECENT    PUBLICATIONS 


OF  THE 


CHURCH   BOOK    SOCIETY 


Arthur  and  Marion's  Sundays  are  pretty  little 
volumes,  published  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Sunday 
School  Union,  and  written  by  the  sisters  Mrs.  Bradley  and 
Miss  Neely,  already  known  as  the  authors  of  "Bread 
upon  the  Waters"  and  "Ellie  Eandolph,"  with  other 
kindred  stories  for  children  and  young  people.  ' '  Arthur, 
by  Mrs.  Bradley,  is  a  collection  of  tales  and  ballads  that 
approach  Mary  Howitt  by  their  grace  and  naturalness, 
while  a  pure  religion  as  well  as  morality  distinguishes  them 
from  the  elder  favorite  of  the  children.  "  Marion's  Hun- 
days,"  by  Miss  Neely,  is  a  series  of  illustrations  of  the 
Ten  Commandments,  woven  together  in  a  single  story.  Its 
teachings  are  simple,  clear,  and  withal  attractive.  Only 
mothers  and  teachers  know  the  great  worth  of  such  aids 
to  Sunday  instruction. — Godey's  Lady's  Book. 

Ash  Wednesday  in  the  Nursery  and  Miss  Laura's 

Wedding  Day  are  by  the  author  of  a  nice  Christmas 
book,  "Philip  and  Arthur."  This  writer's  style  is  ex 
tremely  natural  and  sparkling.  We  know  of  no^  books 
that  have  more  vividness  of  narrative,  combined  with  the 
best  teachings.— Godey's  Lady's  Book. 

The  Toll-Gate  is  a  good  little  story,  illustrating  God's 
guidance  in  every  event  of  our  lives.— Godey's  Lady's  Book. 
54 


CRITICAL   NOTICES. 

Thoughts  on  the  Services.     Designed  as  an  Introduc 
tion  to  the  Liturgy,  and  an  Aid  to  its  Devout  Use.     By 
A.  Cleveland  Coxe,  Rector  of  Grace  Church,  Baltimore. 
This  is  the  third  edition  of  a  work  which  we  have  al 
ready  favorably  noticed.     Encouraged  by  the  reception 
given  to  the  other  editions,  the  author  tells  us  that  he  has 
labored  to  make  this  edition  more  worthy  of  general  adop 
tion  as  an  auxiliary  to  Christian  education.     It  gives  an 
interesting  view  of  the  Scriptures  for  the  different  Sun 
days,  Festivals,  and  Fasts  of  the  Christian  year.— Christian 
Witness. 

The  Sunday  School  Liturgy  :  comprising  an  Office  of 

Devotion  by  Bishop  Hobart,  a  short  Office  of  Devotion, 

and  Hymns  for  Sunday  Schools,  selected  from  the  Prayer 

Book  and  other  sources. 

With  the  first  part  of  this  work  our  Sunday  Schools  are 
generally  familiar.  The  "Short  Office"  is  adopted  and 
approved  in  some  places.  The  hymns  differ  mostly  from 
those  in  the  old  Liturgy,  many  of  them  being  adapted  to 
various  seasons  of  the  ecclesiastical  year. — Gospel  Messenger. 

The  Rectory  of  Valehead;  or,  The  Edifice  of  a  Holy 

Home.     By  the  Eev.  Eobert  Wilson  Evans,  B.D.,  Vicar 

of  Heversham. 

We  thank  the  publisher  for  a  reprint  of  this  very  at- 
tractive  book.  It  presents  a  series  of  fragmentary  but 
delightful  pictures  for  pleasant  and  profitable  contempla 
tion.—  Christian  Witness. 

Lilias  and  her  Cousins,     By  the  author  of  "Thomas 

Jackson"  and  "  Walter  Sey ton." 

This  is  a  tale  of  Planter  Life  in  the  Old  Dominion,  well 
calculated  to  interest  and  instruct  the  young. — Christian 
Witness. 

57 


CRITICAL  NOTICES. 

Moravian  Life;  or,  An  English  Girl's  Account  of  a  Mo 
ravian  Settlement  in  the  Black  Forest.  Edited  by  the 
author  of  "  Mary  Powell." 

An  English  girl,  having  been  sent  to  a  Moravian  school, 
keeps  a  daily  journal,  which  is  in  this  book  laid  before  the 
public.  It  is  deeply  interesting,  not  from  any  account  of 
startling  and  thrilling  incidents,  but  from  the  view  which 
it  enables  one  to  obtain  of  the  character  of  the  Moravians, 
and  the  influence  of  their  peculiar  system  upon  the  daily 
conduct.  Their  doctrines  are  said  to  be  the  same  as  ours. 
Their  ministry  is  declared  by  an  able  divine,  who  has 
thoroughly  examined  the  subject,  to"be  in  the  regular  line 
of  the  Apostolic  succession.  Their  mode  of  worship  is,  for 
the  most  part,  by  a  liturgy.  Music,  however,  is  a  much 
more  prominent  feature  with  them  than  with  us.  Festi 
vals  are  abundant.  But  what  most  charms  the  reader  is 
the  "  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity"  which  seems  to  per 
vade  the  whole  of  Moravian  life.  None  can  fail  to  admire 
and  love  the  Moravians. — Gospd  Messenger. 

The  Children's  Chant  Book :  A  Collection  of  Chants 

and  Carols  for   Sunday  Schools  and  Classes.— Part  I. 

New  York  :  Church  Book  Society. 

This  pamphlet  of  32  pages  contains  music  particularly 
for  Sunday  Schools,  besides  pieces  proper  for  the  Church 
Service,  and  various  carols  and  songs  which  a  child  would 
delight  to  sing,  especially  during  Christmas-tide.  Its  price 
is  3  cents  only. — Calendar, 

The  Church  Primer.  Much  larger  than  the  "Union 
Primer,"  and  a  decided  improvement  upon  it.  Every  page 
has  from  one  to  three  beautiful  wood-cuts.  The  picture 
alphabet  is  the  best  we  have  seen.  The  exercises  in  spell 
ing  and  reading  are  progressive,  and  adapted  to  the 
capacities  of  infant  minds.  —  Gospel  Messenger. 
58 


CRITICAL  NOTICES. 

ADDRESSES 

TO 

CANDIDATES  FOR  ORDINATION, 

ON   THE 

QUESTIONS  IN  .THE  ORDINATION  SERVICE. 

BY  THE  BISHOP  OF  OXFOKD. 


Every  Priest,  when  not  prevented  by  the  urgent  calls  of 
parochial  duty,  ought  to  review  the  Ordination  Service  on 
every  anniversary  of  his  admission  to  holy  orders.  Here 
is  a  book  well  worthy  his  attention  in  connection  with 
this  subject.  It  has  an  Address  based  on  each  inquiry  put 
to  the  candidate  for  Ordination — twelve  Addresses  in  all. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  they  are  highly  suggestive,  in 
structive,  and  encouraging,  while  abounding  with  solemn 
warnings,  since  they  were  delivered  by  such  a  man  as  the 
Bishop  of  Oxford,  and  delivered  by  him  at  successive 
Ordinations  in  his  diocese.  But  we  recommend  this  vol 
ume  specially  to  students  in  Divinity,  who  have  yet  in 
prospect  their  reception  of  the  commission  of  a  Minister 
of  Jesus  Christ.  They  will  find  in  this  book  much  ex- 
planative  of  the  meaning  of  the  Ordinal,  and  much  nobly 
calculated  to  stir  their  holiest  affections,  and  to  induce 
many  serious  reflections  on  the  responsibilities  of  the 
sacred  office.  This  would,  indeed,  constitute  a  good  text-  , 
book  in  Pastoral  Theology. — Calendar. 
05 


CRITICAL   NOTICES. 


BLIND    LILIAS; 

OK, 

FELLOWSHIP     WITH     Q  O  D 

A  TALE  FOR  THE  YOMG. 

BY  A  LADY. 


The  triumphs  of  evangelical  principle  are  graphically 
delineated  in  this  simple  and  beautiful  narrative.  It  tells 
of  discipline  in  affliction,  and  of  its  gradual  work  in  re 
fining  and  rectifying  corrupt  nature.  By  degrees  the 
perverse  will  is  overcome,  and  the  heart  renewed  in 
righteousness,  till  the  kingdom  of  God  is  established  in 
the  soul.  With  an  intimate  knowledge  of  human  nature, 
and  a  charming  naturalness,  the  lady  author  has  brought 
before  us  the  life-like  portraiture  of  a  young  and  ingenu 
ous  girl,  affectionate,  impressible,  and  impulsive,  but 
wayward  and  self-willed  ;  full  of  warm  and  generous 
feelings,. but  perverse,  proud,  and  passionate  ;  with  a  mind 
of  superior  power  and  great  intelligence,  but  headstrong 
and  impatient  of  control — a  character  needing  the  severe 
chastening  with  which,  in  the  providence  of  God,  she  is 
visited,  to  prepare  her  heart  to  receive  the  heavenly 
leaven.  Finally,  the  child  of  nature  becomes  the  child 
of  grace,  and  walks  in  fellowship  with  God.  This  story 
abounds  with  interesting  incidents.  The  volume  is  beau 
tifully  gotten  up,  and  adorned  with  plates.  -Calendar. 
66 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 
LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 

lDe'57BP 


REC'D  CD 


•  . 

General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


YB 


